I do not intend to belittle the very real harassment and microaggressions people experience at work. HR exists to address those issues, offering support and solutions when workplace dynamics become harmful.
However, I do intend to highlight that during the holiday season, children can experience their own versions of harassment and microaggressions.
Children often face a power hierarchy where adults sit at the top and kids are at the bottom, leaving them feeling off-balance. For children, this dynamic can feel just as disempowering as it does for adults.
What Might These Aggressions Look Like?
Unwanted Physical Contact:
🚸Demands for hugs or kisses.
🚸Pressure to sit on laps or be picked up.
🚸Unwanted tickles or other physical interactions.
Tech/Cyber Harassment:
🚸Taking photos or videos of kids without their consent, especially when they’re uncomfortable.
Intimidation:
🚸Insisting kids eat foods they don’t like or want.
🚸Expecting kids to sit still longer than they’re capable of and criticizing them when they can’t.
🚸Shaming kids for displaying age-appropriate behaviors like pouting, crying, refusing, or burying their heads in their parents’ laps.
🚸Labeling kids as “bad,” “spoiled,” or “immature” for expressing emotions.
🚸Criticizing parents in front of their children, suggesting they aren’t doing their job in raising their kids.
Who Makes Up the Kid HR Department?
The Kid HR Department is made up of parents, grandparents, and close friends or relatives who are willing to advocate for children. The more adults you enlist in your
Kid HR Department, the easier it is to shift the balance of power from intimidation to accommodation.
What is the Mandate?
The mandate is simple: 💪 fiercely defend children against unwanted and unacceptable treatment.
How to Intervene:
When someone oversteps a child’s boundaries, confidently give a firm but polite response like,
“My child doesn’t want to, and that is perfectly fine.” Then, redirect the interaction to something more neutral or positive.
By advocating for children’s comfort and autonomy during the holidays, we can create an environment where they feel respected, supported, and safe. After all, the holiday season should be a time of joy and connection—for everyone.🎉
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