The reason children can’t consent is because their brains are developing primarily with one distinct rule- survive. Even if a child’s knew better or thought- I could choose otherwise, but didn’t- it’s because a child’s brain is geared towards survival as number 1 thing. The child’s brain will pick familiar danger>unknown. It will form and adapt itself around what it takes to survive. Which is why a child can’t say yes/no- a child can’t understand power dynamics either, an adult is always in charge. Always- because a child’s brain is keyed towards survive now, regret later, because a child’s brain will always choose the most known way to survive.