Resources for Raising Conscious Kids: September Edition

As an agency, Bridgetown Baby is deeply committed to confronting bias within ourselves, building our skills, and creating an inclusive model of care that authentically serves our clients and contributes to culture change. This is work we all can do. It starts with us; it continues with our children - and we are their most important teachers. Each month, we'll be sharing resources for talking with kids about bias, celebrating differences, and actions our families can take to create a world we all can live in.

When Roe v. Wade was struck down, the bodily autonomy of more than half of US citizens was placed under threat in ways we haven’t experienced for decades; this travesty is part of the inspiration for Bridgetown Baby’s Social Justice Study Group to explore the topic of bodily autonomy as this year’s focus for discussion.

Even before the Supreme Court action, however, there’s been a a positive and growing awareness of the importance of defining and supporting bodily autonomy for children - teaching children that they have rights to set boundaries, decide who can touch them and determine what feels appropriate to them.

Can I Give You a Squish? is one of many books that can help give young children an early start in understanding bodily autonomy. In this sweetly illustrated short book, an enthusiastic mer-boy is so happy that he just wants to give all of his friends a squish - only it turns out that some of his friends don’t feel comfortable with that. Together, the aquatic friends come to an awareness of their different preferences and the importance of asking for consent.

You can find Can I Give You a Squish? at Powell’s or your local library. For more reading on bodily autonomy for children, this article is a nice starting point.