I’ve been trying to teach my kids about personal space and boundaries, but it’s not always easy. I want to use positive reinforcement instead of punishment, but I’m not sure how to go about it effectively. Any tips or strategies that have worked for other parents? I’m especially interested in ways to make it fun or turn it into a game, if possible. Thanks in advance for any advice!
In our house, we’ve found success with turning personal space into a game. We use hula hoops as ‘space bubbles’ and practice moving around without bumping into each other.
My kids love it when we do the ‘space bubble dance’ where they try to keep their balance while staying inside their hoop. It’s pretty funny to watch!
We also read books about respecting others’ space and talk about how it makes us feel when someone gets too close. I’ve noticed my kids are more aware now and often remind each other about personal space.
It’s not perfect, but making it fun has really helped them understand and remember better than just telling them what to do.
I’ve been trying something similar with my 5-year-old. We play a game called ‘bubble space’ where we pretend we’re in bubbles and can’t pop each other’s bubbles. It’s fun, but I’m not sure if it’s really sinking in.
I like the hula hoop idea! That seems more concrete. Have you found your kids remembering to respect space outside of game time? I worry mine only thinks about it when we’re actively playing.
What about when they’re excited or upset? That’s when my little one tends to forget all about personal space. Any tips for those moments?
I remember teaching my kids about boundaries. We started with a simple game called ‘personal space bubbles.’ Each kid got a big beach ball, and they had to move around without letting their bubbles touch. They loved it!
As they got older, we talked more about how different situations need different space. Like, it’s okay to hug family, but we keep more distance from strangers. We practiced scenarios—what to do if someone gets too close at the playground or how to politely ask for more space.
One thing that really helped was praising them when they respected boundaries, even in small ways. ‘I noticed you asked before hugging your friend. That was really thoughtful!’ It took time, but they started picking up on it.
There were definitely bumps along the way, especially when emotions ran high. But keeping it positive and making it a normal part of our talks really paid off in the long run. 
We’ve been playing a fun game in our house called ‘Personal Space Explorers.’ My kid gets to be the space captain, and we set up an obstacle course with pillows and stuffed animals as ‘space stations.’ The goal is to navigate through without bumping into anything.
It’s been great for teaching boundaries in a playful way. We also talk about how different ‘planets’ (people) might have different sized ‘atmospheres’ (personal space needs). My child seems to get it more when we frame it as an adventure rather than a rule.
Still working on applying it in real-life situations, but it’s a start!
We play ‘space bubbles’ with hula hoops. Kids move around without touching. It’s fun and helps them get it.
I’ve noticed they’re more aware now, even at the playground. Sometimes they forget when excited, but overall it’s working.