Consent in the Wonder Primes

The Wonder Primes have been reading the book, “Yes, No,” a first conversation about consent by Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, illustrated by Isabel Roxas. We have introduced this book several times now throughout the year.  We like reading this book as a way to first introduce the concept of consent to our youngest Center Schoolers. This book gives the Wonder Primes language and exposure to the idea of asking for consent. 

Conflicts can sometimes arise in our classroom because of unwanted touch, which is of course developmentally appropriate for toddlers.  However, we like to use these moments as teaching opportunities for these bigger concepts. After winter break, we decided to reread the book, this time diving a little deeper with each other as we learn about the powerful messages this book has to teach us.  We practiced together saying the words, “yes,” and “no,” and encouraged the students to ask questions before touching each other’s bodies. 

As we read the book this time around, many students could identify the feelings of characters in the book by looking at facial expressions or noticing gestures such as hands up, which meant “stop,” or “I don’t like it.”  We could see many wonder primes practicing or playing with the concept of consent as they went about their days.  They are noticing more when a friend likes or doesn’t like being touched and are checking in with each other without prompts from their teachers.  We are seeing children looking at each other’s faces more and noticing body language.  We have spent a lot of the year scaffolding this for them, asking students to slow down and notice each other and we are seeing many students beginning to do this independently.  We’ve heard Wonder Primes students asking for consent a lot lately.  Some questions we’ve heard are:

M: “Hug?”

E: “You want to play with me?”

MC: “You want a push on the slide?”

MC: “You like that?”

M: “Do you want a kiss?”

O:  “You want a hat?” (making cups into hats)

MC: “Can I sit with you?” (on the swings)

We will continue to practice asking for consent from each other,  teaching about the importance of body autonomy, and noticing how others react to us.