Boundaries

CATEGORY: SOCIAL

Why:

Understanding and stating clear boundaries is essential for healthy relationships.

Warm-Up:

Creating a “boundary” means saying what is OK vs. not OK with you. For example, saying that it’s okay to come in my room but only if you knock first. Can you think of a time when you’ve set—or tried to set—a boundary with someone?

Exploration:

If we want to have good relationships, we need to set healthy boundaries. That means saying what is OK and not OK with us, whether that's if we like being hugged or not, or how rough we want our basketball game to be. We all have lots of boundaries, but problems happen when we don't tell other people what they are. Think of the possible boundaries you could set: for example around your stuff, your time, money, physical touch, or conversations you don't want to be in. Could you choose one new boundary you would like to set?

Additional Resources

For more background information on this topic, check out the video on Boundaries: Why You Need Them & How to Set Them, from the Holistic Psychologist.

While the video is intended for adults, there may be excerpts you could play for your students, depending on their age and maturity.

For a more student-centered resource, check out the Argonaut Set a Boundary with Someone Challenge.