First Kiss and Showing Affection
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This video offers suggestions to a young person unsure if they are ready for their first kiss with a partner. It encourages you to ask yourself if you trust and feel comfortable with this person, confirm if you have their consent, and ask yourself why you want to do something physical with them to ensure you are not feeling pressured into affection. The video also encourages young people to think through what types of affection you’re comfortable with and discussing everything with your partner. It also emphasises that it’s never okay to pressure anyone into kissing or any other behaviour, and that it can be helpful to talk to a friend, sibling, or trusted adult.
Youth
Thinking about kissing or showing someone affection can feel a bit scary, but this nervousness is completely normal. Before you decide you’re ready for that first kiss or even a hug, consider whether you trust and feel safe with this person. Think about why you want to get physical. Is it just to fit in or to please the other person? If it’s because you truly want to be closer to this other person and show them affection, then you may be ready for that first kiss. Before you do anything ask yourself this question: Did they consent to a kiss, hug or hand-holding? The only way you will know is if you talk to the other person and find out what you’re both comfortable with.
There are lots of ways to show affection, like kissing or holding hands. However you and another person choose to show affection, you might be worried that you’ll do it wrong. Nobody is born knowing how to kiss or exactly when to ask another person if you can hold their hand. If you trust and feel comfortable with the person you want to show affection, things may be awkward at first, but you’ll talk and eventually figure out what feels right together. And if you’re still not sure about all of this, talk to an older sibling, a parent or other trusted adult.
Parents
Parents and caregivers play an important role in allaying children’s concerns about first kisses and showing affection. Young people may feel nervous or concerned that they haven’t yet had a first kiss or about how to kiss. Parents and caregivers can reassure children that no one is born knowing how to kiss and there is no age by when a person must have had a first kiss.
It’s important that children know that they get to decide for themselves if or how they want to show affection. Talking to your children about why they want to show affection can help them figure out if they are ready to show affection to another person. If they genuinely want to be close to another person, parents and caregivers can help them figure out what they are comfortable with, recognising that there are many ways two people might show affection for one another—from hand-holding to kissing and hugging.
Discussions about first kisses are also a great time to talk about consent. It’s important that young people know that it is never okay to pressure another person to do anything. Encourage young people to talk with their partners to figure out what both people are comfortable with. When parents, caregivers and other trusted adults have these conversations with the young people in their lives, young people know they have someone to turn to if they have questions or want to talk.
CONVERSATION STARTERS
If you start essential conversations about topics like consent with your children, then they will know they can come to you with questions. The easiest way to start these conversations is to talk about issues as they come up in everyday life, like while watching shows or movies together.
Consent is unique in that it can be discussed and demonstrated in many non-sexual situations in everyday life. Using each other’s belongings and giving hugs or kisses are just a couple of opportunities to demonstrate consent with your child.
Educators
Educators can help students understand that they get to decide for themselves if or how they want to show affection. Supporting your students in understanding why they want to show affection can also help them figure out if they are ready to show affection to another person. If they genuinely want to be close to another person, there are many ways a person might show affection to someone else—from hand-holding to kissing and hugging.
Discussing first kisses and affection is a great time to talk about consent. It’s important that young people know that consent does not only apply to sexual behaviours, but it also includes behaviours like kissing. Students should understand that it is never okay to pressure another person to do anything. Young people should understand that consent means that both people actively and verbally agree to whatever behaviours both partners are comfortable with.
International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education
Families
Consent, Privacy and Bodily Integrity
Decision-making