The subject of sex is very sensitive for children. Even when parents know they need to educate their young ones on sex matters, yet for several reasons, they either ignore or kill the child’s curiosity. This is often the case in some homes, where parents are not prepared to help the child face a sexualized society.
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At what age should a child have sex education? As a parent or guardian, you may be wondering when you should teach your kids about sex education. In this article, I will be discussing this explicitly from what sex education is for children when to talk about sex, and how to relate sex matters with them.
What Is Sex Education?
Sex education is simply having the appropriate understanding of topics related to sex and sexuality. It is providing information about topics including bodily development, sexual orientation, intimate relationship, sexual reproduction, sexually transmitted infections, abstinence, and other closely related topics.
Should a Child Get Sex Education?
Sex education is a sensitive matter that parents and guardians easily ‘hide’ from their little ones. Such parents believe they are too young to have this knowledge. But the fact is we live in a world that is increasingly sexually excessive in both looks, words and action.
Sex is everywhere and there is nothing to hide from these little ones. Unfortunately, you might not know the extent to which they already know these things we hide from them. This is the most important reason a child should have sex education.
At What Age Should a Child Get Sex Education?
Agreed a child should have sex education, the next question is at what age should a child get sex education. According to Bruce Perry, “Children don’t need more things. The best toy a child can have is a parent who gets down on the floor and plays with them. Be that parent the child needs at different things.
The right age and time for children’s sex education is now. Whatever age the child is, start now to educate the child. I agree with experts who say sex education for children includes babies- as soon as they are born. But how is that possible?
This school of thought recommends mothers should begin to train and nurture their babies in the direction of providing sex information from the very beginning. But the ideal age, most preferable to teach children sex education is between 1 – 3 years. Which means as soon as they can talk and begin to ask questions.
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How to Introduce a Child to Sex Education?
According to Wikipedia, biologically, a child is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty. But we all know the puberty stage is not the same for all children. So, anyone below 18 years is regarded as a child.
Meanwhile, age difference matters a lot, so you don’t expect a toddler, teenager, and young adult to learn sex education the same way. Their level of understanding, inquisitiveness, and exposure tends to influence how they learn.
When introducing sex education to children at their various levels, you need to do so skillfully. We need to know sex education is not teaching children how to have sex. It is about introducing instructions that guide these things. If as a parent you have not introduced this topic before now, it might seem daunting. But in the case, where a child is aware due to maturity and exposure, there is a right way to talk to them about sex.
For children between the age of 1-3, start teaching them how to name their body parts including the genitals (penis and vagina). This should not warrant any fear whatsoever. Also, from this age mothers should avoid being nude before their boys or father before the girls.
From ages 3-5, share with them basic information about their bodies. Teach them to understand their body, and privacy around their genitals, teach them boundaries, where to allow touch, and where to raise alarm. The aim in the end is to help them know their body is private.
Then from age 5 – 8, you can introduce how babies are formed using the child’s language to indicate mummy carrying a baby in her stomach because she is dad’s wife. Begin to introduce how sexual intercourse happens depending on the child’s mind i.e., understanding, and exposure. Age 9 – 12 is usually the puberty stage where the child needs to be taught about body change, and sexual behaviors.
As children grow into adolescents, the work gets tougher especially when you have not started any private teaching except what they are left with at schools and the media. When they get older to age 13 -16, they developed their life vision and tend to be more private and secretive. At this point, it won’t be difficult for parents to relate with children about sex issues. Chances are your child will approach you when in difficult situations or need answers to some burning questions.
Conclusion
The moment parents leave sex education out of the child’s little beginning, they already expose the child to wrong information. The child leaves home for school, meets friends, and has contacts with neighbors, and family, and as such, they are at risk of learning the wrong things about sex and sexuality.
Remember, the children of the 21st century are smarter and technologically driven. So, caregivers starting with parents must pay attention to the child’s learning including the right sex education right on time.
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