Mike DomitrzPresident, Author, and Speaker on Respect, The Center for Respect, Inc. · Author & Speaker on Respect for Schools, Corporations, & the Military since 1990 (has reached

The Exact Words to Teach Your Teen Before Their First Kiss

2 Sept 2026 · 1 min

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1:13

In this short instructional video, Mike Domitrz argues that vague warnings about dating and kissing do not prepare teenagers for real-life intimacy. Instead, he proposes teaching three concrete consent skills: (1) ask clearly with a phrase such as “Would you like to kiss?” or “May I kiss you?”; (2) answer honestly with “yes,” “no,” or “not yet”; and (3) respect the response by thanking the partner and affirming that you will not proceed without consent. Domitrz emphasizes practicing these exact words aloud before a teen faces a real situation, encouraging parents or educators to role‑play scenarios. He positions this approach as a skill‑building program he can bring to schools, inviting viewers to contact him for implementation.

Chapters

Your teenager's about to kiss someone. What exact words have you taught them to use? If your answer is, well, they'll know what to do, that's a problem. Well-meaning adults often mistake warnings for preparation. Don't do this, don't go there, don't put yourself in that situation. Warnings may communicate your rules, but they don't teach teenagers how to navigate intimacy respectfully or realistically. Teach 3 specific consent skills. 1, ask clearly. Would you like to kiss? Or, may I kiss you? Answer honestly. Yes, no, not yet. Respect the answer of the person. If your partner doesn't say yes, respond with, thanks for telling me. I'm glad I asked. The last thing I'd want to do is to do anything with you you don't want to do. Then practice those words out loud with your teenager. Ask, if you wanted to kiss someone but weren't sure how they felt, what could you say? Let them think of what they'd say. Because the first time a young person practices asking for consent or setting a boundary should not be when their heart is racing and the pressure is real. Consent education isn't simply teaching teenagers what to avoid. It's teaching them how to ask, answer, and respect the answer. This is what I bring into schools. Real skill building. Want this for your kids? Reach out. Let's talk about bringing me to your schools.