Consent education in the early years, taboo or a must-do: early childhood educators’ perspectives on consent education.

This paper presents findings on early childhood educators’ perceptions, training, and practices regarding consent education. Responses revealed widespread agreement that consent education is appropriate and necessary for children aged 3–5 years. Reflexive thematic analysis identified three major themes: (a) conceptualisations of consent; (b) barriers to consent education; and (c) effective delivery considerations for consent education in early childhood settings. Findings highlight the necessity for further research into overcoming barriers to consent education to enable its effective delivery in early childhood settings. This initial analysis of early childhood consent education highlights its importance and suitability for early childhood while stressing the need for greater support for childhood educators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]