Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
NEW YORK CITY — A new video empowering children to set boundaries and dictate what happens to their bodies is garnering praise from parents and teachers alike, and the mastermind behind the project happens to be just 7 years old.
Lola Brian came home from school furious one afternoon after a boy in her class gave her an unwanted kiss when the teacher wasn’t looking, Today reported. Rachel Brian, her mother, asked her if she told the boy it was OK to kiss her, and Lola said no.
Brian then asked her daughter if she told a teacher or another adult.
“No, I was too embarrassed,” Brian said of her daughter’s response. “I am so upset, I just want this day to be over.”
Brian, an illustrator and former teacher, suggested the two of them collaborate to make a video to help teach children about a vitally important concept: consent. Lola jumped at the idea, Brian told Today.
The video, which had more than 7,000 views on YouTube as of Wednesday night, includes Brian’s quirky stick figure illustrations and Lola’s narration. The pair composed the script using dozens of conversations they’d shared on the topic.
“This is your body,” Lola begins. “And you get to decide what you do with your body. No one else is entitled to tell you want to do with your body — not your friends, not strangers, not adults you know. No one is entitled to decide what you do with your body but you.”
Brian and Lola explain that everyone is different — some people are huggers, while others like their space. Just because you like to hug doesn’t give you permission to hug people without asking their permission.
“Each person gets to decide what they’re comfortable with,” Lola continues. “If a person doesn’t say yes, then they haven’t given their consent.”
While the video remains fairly humorous and light-hearted, Brian felt it was important to breach the subject of sexual abuse — though it’s addressed in a child-friendly way.
ting:
“If an adult does something that kids can’t consent to, that’s not OK,” Lola says. “The adult is wrong and it’s not the kid's fault. That’s when it’s most important to tell a trusted adult.”
Brian is no stranger to videos like this one. Her work on the adult version of the project, “Consent: It’s as Simple as Tea,” has millions of views on YouTube and is widely used in schools, colleges and police departments across the world, Today reported.
“Using humor to educate has been part of my teaching forever,” Brian told Today. “It breaks down barriers, gets people out of their comfort zone and allows them to really hear the message.”
Brian told Today the video is a nonthreatening way to teach kids about control, safety and self-respect — giving them a voice and empowering them to protect themselves when necessary.
