Children have the right to set their own boundaries based on what they are comfortable with. One way to be a safe adult is to honor these boundaries to the best of our abilities. For example, if a child doesn’t want to high five, we can honor that desire and find another way to celebrate, maybe with a wave or friendly smile. When we respond positively to a child’s preferred interactions, we show them that their comfort does matter, and should be respected whenever possible. For more information, read the VIRTUS® article “How Safe Adults Can Maintain Health Boundaries” at lacatholics.org/did-you-know/.
Read the VIRTUS® article “How Safe Adults Can Maintain Health Boundaries” here.