When living in a sexually active society, teaching kids about sex at an early age is important. It is never too early to talk with your child about sex. When your child is young, it is better to talk about sex, sexuality and bodies because it will help your child understand that sex and sexuality are healthy parts of life.
In order to make later conversations easier, you must have open and honest conversations when your child is young. These early conversations also lay the groundwork for children to make healthier choices about sex when they are older.
While having conversations with your child, make sure to have an open mind and answer all their questions with logic. The key message is to win your child’s trust so that he or she can come to you for honest, open and reliable information. Ensure that your child does not feel embarrassed or scared to ask you sex-related questions or about sexuality in general.
Teaching your kids about sex isn’t a one-off conversation that you have to get exactly right. Such conversations evolve as your child grows up. Commencing a conversation about sexuality at an early age and continuing that conversation as the child grows is the best sex education strategy.
While talking to your child, keep one thing in mind to explain things in a way that your child can understand, given their age and level of development. Having conversations about sex all through their growing process, lets parents avoid giving one big talk when the child reaches adolescence.
Three Steps for Talking About Sex
First- find out what your child already knows. For example, ‘Where do you think babies come from?’ or ‘What have you heard about where babies come from?’
Second- correct any misinformation and give the facts. For example, ‘No babies don’t grow in their mummy’s tummy. They grow in a special place inside their mummy, called the uterus’.
Third- use the conversation as an opportunity to talk about your own thoughts or feelings. For example, ‘Some people really want to have a baby when they’re ready and other people aren’t too sure about having a baby at all.
Talking To Children About Sex
Explain Things at Your Child’s Level
Explain sex-related information to your child at his level. If your child is six years old, he would not want to know a detailed process of ovulation. However, he might be fascinated about to know ‘How the baby gets out?’ or ‘why women can make just one or two babies at a time?’. Make sure to not bore your child with scientific terms and stay positive in the conversation. Explain all the points in brief. Let your child come back if he has any more questions in the future.
Use Correct Names for Body Parts
When talking about sex to your child, it is essential to use the correct names for body parts such as penis, scrotum, testicles, vulva, vagina. Using the correct names conveys a message to your child that these sex organs are not taboo to talk about. By knowing the exact names of all the body parts, your child will be able to express himself better in front of you or the doctors.
Start a Conversation
Some children don’t ask many questions, so you might need to start a conversation. It’s a good idea to think about what to say beforehand, then pick a good time to bring the subject up.
Prepare Yourself
You as a parent might feel uncomfortable talking about sexuality or using the words such as ‘Penis’ or ‘Vagina’ when talking about bodies. It is advisable to prepare yourself before talking to your children. It will make the conversation easier for you.
Final Words!
It is natural for children to ask about sex and sexuality and get curious about the topic. Being a parent, it is your duty to inform your children and answer all their questions with utmost honesty. Check out our sex education website to know more about the relationship between children and their sexuality.
