Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs One mom has captured the moment her four-year-old taught their little sister an important message—through the medium of song.Autumn Barron, 31, began teaching Norah about boundaries when she was a toddler, using simple, age-appropriate ways to help her understand personal space, consent, and respect for herself and others.Now, the preschooler, who lives in Austin, Texas, is passing on her knowledge of what is acceptable and unacceptable to Audrey, 1.Barron, a stay-at-home mom, told Newsweek: “As she’s grown, we’ve continued reinforcing those lessons, giving her the tools to advocate for herself.”
Two screenshots of Norah and Audrey, both wearing matching pink dresses. Norah puts her hand out as she sings the song and is joined by her little sister, who dances along.
Two screenshots of Norah and Audrey, both wearing matching pink dresses. Norah puts her hand out as she sings the song and is joined by her little sister, who dances along.
TikTok/@honestlyautumn
During the TikTok video shared by @honestlyautumn, the sisters can be seen wearing matching pink dresses. Norah is sitting on a chair while her sister looks up to her and dances to the song.She sings: “Please stop. I don’t like that—I’m feeling uncomfortable, I need more space. Don’t take it personally. It’s just a boundary.”Audrey then walks off, and a frustrated Norah says: “She’s not listening to me. That is a boundary!”The song, “The Setting Boundaries Song” by Hopscotch Songs, was released in 2023. It is a social and emotional song for kids about setting healthy boundaries with others.One of the founders of Hopscotch Songs, Joanna Pace, told Newsweek the tune was created based on her own childhood experiences.She said: “When I was a child I remember being tickled and I hated it so much. I wanted to tell people to stop but most adults or other kids just thought that I liked being tickled because the natural response is to laugh.”She added that the song is a “tool for kids” to set boundaries for their own bodies as it allows them to address the idea and providing vocabulary surrounding it.To create the song, she worked with other teachers, parents, kids, and our school counselor to try and understand other common misunderstandings.She said: “For example, sometimes when one child sets a boundary, i.e. ‘I don’t like hugs’ another child might feel that they are being rejected. We tried our best to address this, and hope that the boundaries song reminds you that your body belongs to you.”Barron told Newsweek: “It’s incredibly important to me that my children learn about body autonomy, consent, and personal boundaries from a young age. Boundaries aren’t just a nice idea—they’re necessary for having healthy relationships built on mutual respect.”I want my daughters to grow up knowing that they are in control of their own bodies, that their voices matter, and that their boundaries should be respected.”I also want them to understand that respecting others’ boundaries is just as important. These are lifelong skills that will help them in relationships, friendships, and everyday interactions.”Audrey has yet to join in on the song, but Barron predicts it won’t be long until she is singing along too.”This is the definition of a good mom, period,” said one user, and another said: “Lil sis is like, ‘Wow, what a bop!'”Children Setting BoundariesNewsweek discussed the clip, captioned: “love that it helps teach them to set healthy boundaries!” with parenting expert Alexandra Teasdale, who goes by @alexandratealeaf on social media. She said that children setting boundaries on personal space and touch is important for their emotional and physical well-being.She explained: “It helps them learn to recognize their own needs and speak up for themselves, giving them a sense of control and self-respect. When children feel comfortable saying when they need space or when they’re open to a hug, for example, it teaches them how to set healthy boundaries and understand consent—skills they’ll carry with them throughout life.”It’s also important to remember that we shouldn’t expect a child to hug an adult just because they’re ‘family.’ Respect must go both ways, and a hug shouldn’t be forced.”Teasdale, based in London, added that it is essential to encourage children to set boundaries.”But we also need to ensure they don’t use these boundaries as an excuse to avoid social interaction altogether,” she said. “As parents, it’s our job to help guide them, ensuring they understand the difference between standing firm on their needs and being dismissive or rude.”If you have a family dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.
