Voices of Courage shares ways to foster healthy situations with kids during the holidays

By Leah Rainwater

As the holiday season approaches, Voices of Courage shared recommendations to be mindful when taking part in family gatherings.

While sitting on Santa’s lap for a picture might seem like something you think your kiddo would enjoy, it could actually share a different message.

“Sitting on a strange man’s lap to get your picture taken- some kids are fine with it because they know they Santa thing and they think that’s great and fun,” said Voices of Courage Executive Director, Melissa Birdsell. “Some kids are very nervous about doing that.”

Birdsell said forcing kids to do things like sitting on Santa’s lap, or hugging and kissing a family member they may not have seen in a while, could lead to the mentality that a kids’ body choice isn’t their own.

“We just want to make sure that we’re sending the right message to ask them if they want to do it, if they don’t want to do it,” said Birdsell. “They shouldn’t be forced to.”

Teaching kids they can make their own bodily choices can lead to a better mindset when they get older.

“We want to send that message to kids at an early age…” said Birdsell. “We want to make sure that they kids understand they have the right to say, ‘No’. Especially, you know, females in general need to know that it’s okay to say, ‘No’.”

Birdsell also said, although it may be hard for parents and kids to enforce boundaries toward other family members in this regard, sending out a message before getting together would help with forewarning those you love about setting healthy boundaries.