Continuing our learning about staying safe, Year 4 thought about consent and what this actually means.
First of all, what is consent?
“It means you say yes.” commented Emma.
Consent is the act of giving permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.
“Do we always have to give our consent?”
“We can say no and not feel bad about it,” stated Musa.
“Why do we ask for permission?”
“You can ask to play with someone’s toys or ask your friend if they’d like to play your game,” said Jasraj.
“Asking for permission can keep us safe. If your parents say no then you should accept that,” quoted Sami.
“Never consent to competitions online,” suggested Mrs Freeman.
The children went on to name occasions where they believed they should ask others for their consent.
“Would you like to play this online game with us later?”
“No, I’d rather not as it’s not really my thing. Thank you for asking.”
We talked about respecting boundaries and that each and every one of us has the right to say NO! This doesn’t have to be said rudely but it is very important that if you don’t want to do something then you don’t give your permission.
The important thing to remember about consent is that you should always respect others when they say ‘no‘. That is their choice to make, not yours! Even if you might not like their choice you should always respect it.
“Can I take your photo?” asked Mrs Freeman.
“Yes, of course that’s fine,” replied Sami.
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t,” said Jess.
“Thanks for asking but no,” stated Noah.
“I’m not happy about that so no,” mentioned Felix.
Year 4 were taught that they have the right to withhold consent or to give consent at a later date. Giving consent and knowing that it can be withdrawn at any time, is all part of staying safe. Using the poem below, the children used some inference skills to decipher the effects peer pressure can have on individuals and the importance of saying yes/no for the right reasons.
Peer Pressure 
The fear of being left out is what it’s all about
No one wants to get laughed at or be the odd one out
No one likes to feel rejected put down and dejected
we all love to feel accepted, we’re all affected
but you have to learn to be your own person
just be yourself and aim to be your best version
You’re not a robot programmed to follow without thinking
just acting brainless with empty eyes blinking
I understand the pressure it doesn’t stop as you grow
It’s natural to follow where everyone goes
and sometimes it’s ok to go with the flow (follow the crowd)
but other times you have to swim against the tide and so (do your own thing)
you’ll have to say no, when everyone says yes
and be firm with your choice deep in your chest
and overcome that fear of being left out
because that’s what peer pressure is really all about.
Year 4 showed empathy, understanding, maturity and a good understanding throughout our lesson.
Well done!