Physical Boundaries
This is the invisible bubble of personal space around your body.
This type of boundary involves how people speak to you and what you say.
A verbal boundary
This type of boundary involves your money and belongings.
A financial boundary
This type of boundary protects your feelings and personal information.
An emotional boundary
Name one reason why boundaries are important.
They help keep you safe, protect your feelings, protect your belongings, or help you have healthy relationships.
True or False: You have to hug someone if they want to hug you.
False! You should say no to physical contact.
True or False: It is okay to let someone yell at you because they are having a bad day.
False. You can set a boundary about respectful communication.
True or False: You have to lend money to a friend if they ask for it.
False. You can say no to lending money.
True or False: You have to share your private feelings with anyone who asks.
False. You can choose what personal information to share.
True or False: Setting a boundary means you are being mean or rude.
False. Boundaries are respectful and healthy.
Someone keeps tapping you on the shoulder after you asked them to stop. What type of boundary is being crossed?
Physical Boundary
Your friend keeps interrupting you when you are talking. What type of boundary should you set?
A verbal boundary
Your classmate keeps borrowing your supplies and does not return them. What type of boundary is being crossed?
A financial boundary.
Someone keeps asking about your family problems, but you do not want to talk about them. What type of boundary should you set?
An emotional boundary
You want some alone time, but your sibling keeps coming into your room. Which type or types of boundary does this involve?
A physical boundary involving personal space and/or an emotional boundary involving privacy
Give an appropriate response when someone stands too close to you.
"Please step back." "I need more personal space."
Give an appropriate response when someone calls you a mean name.
“Please do not call me that. I do not like it, and it is not respectful.”
Give an appropriate response when someone asks to borrow something expensive that you do not want to lend.
“I am not comfortable lending that out. It is important to me.”
Give an appropriate response when someone asks a personal question you do not want to answer.
“That is private, and I would rather not talk about it.”
List all four types of boundaries we learned about in this unit.
Physical, verbal, financial, and emotional boundaries
Your friend grabs your phone out of your hand without asking. Explain why this crosses a physical boundary and give an appropriate response.
It crosses a physical boundary because the person touched your belongings without permission. An appropriate response is, “Please do not grab my things. Ask me first if you need something.”
During a group project, one student keeps talking over everyone and will not let others share ideas. Identify the boundary issue and suggest how the group could address it
The student is crossing verbal boundaries by not allowing others to speak. The group could say, “We all need a chance to share. Let us take turns speaking.”
Your friend borrowed $20 last month and never paid you back. Now they are asking for $10 more. How could you set a financial boundary while maintaining the friendship?
“I cannot lend you money right now. I still need the $20 from last time. Let us talk about how you can pay that back first.”
Your friend tells you a secret and asks you to keep it private, but then you find out the secret involves someone getting hurt. What should you do and why?
Tell a trusted adult because safety comes first. If someone is being hurt or may be in danger, it is important to ask for help.
Create your own school-based boundary scenario. Identify the type of boundary and give an appropriate response.
Share out!