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Boundaries in Relationships

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.

  • Setting Healthy Boundaries

    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

    Teens/Young Adults Youth
  • Healthy Boundaries Lesson

    This lesson explains what boundaries are, why they're important, and what types of touch and topics are appropriate for different relationships.

    Source: Elevatus

    Educators Parents
  • Boundaries song "That's a Boundary"

    This song describes what boundaries are, what to do if someone crosses your boundary, and how you ask someone about their boundaries.

    Source: Hopscotch

    Youth
  • Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality

    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

    Educators Parents
  • Appropriate Touch Video

    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

    Educators Parents Teens/Young Adults Youth
  • Boundaries Handout

    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

    Educators Parents Teens/Young Adults Youth
  • My Boundaries: Personal Space and Touch

    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

    Educators Parents
  • Personal Space

    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

    Parents
  • Teaching Kids About Boundaries

    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

    Educators Parents