Understanding boundaries is essential for a child’s emotional development and well-being. Boundaries help to foster confidence, empathy, and respect for oneself and others. Setting appropriate physical and emotional boundaries gives your child the skills they need to maintain healthy relationships at home, school, work, and in the community. This list of resources includes videos, print resources, and teaching tools exploring healthy boundaries and how and when to create them.
This short video covers what boundaries are, why they're important, how to set them, and how to stick to them.
Source: The Prevention Connection
This lesson explains what boundaries are, why they're important, and what types of touch and topics are appropriate for different relationships.
Source: Elevatus
This song describes what boundaries are, what to do if someone crosses your boundary, and how you ask someone about their boundaries.
Source: Hopscotch
This book supports parents of children with Down Syndrome and other intellectual disabilities in the areas of sexuality, boundaries and their bodies.
Source: Terri Couwenhoven
This video shows a youth with Down Syndrome acting out appropriate touch with others. The touch differs depending on the type of relationship they have with that person.
Source: Advocate Medical Group: Adult Down Sydrome Center
This short storyboard with icons helps learners understand about personal boundaries, social boundaries, setting boundaries, and respecting boundaries.
Source: Advocate Medical Group: Adult Down Sydrome Center
This lesson plan helps children define and describe healthy boundaries by examining appropriate touch and personal space. Questions and explanations are provided to facilitate conversation as well as suggested activities.
Source: Differing Abilities from Teaching Sexual Health
This resource hub provides articles and activities on a number of sexual health topics, including personal space. It was developed specifically for parents of IDD youth.
Source: Planet Puberty
This page help parents and educators talk to youth about boundaries, specifically, how kids can learn to set and respect personal boundaries, the importance of thinking about how other people feel, and empowering children to advocate for themselves.
Source: Child Mind Institute