Generations ago, parents dreaded having “the talk” with their children and sometimes avoided discussing sex altogether. Telling children that the stork brings babies really occurred in some families. For your children to get the correct information about sex, it is important to establish an open line of communication as early as possible, according to WebMD. You will want to start talking to your children about sex early.
Name the Body Parts
You can start talking to your children about sex as soon as they are old enough to understand words, according to WebMD. You can start naming the body parts during your child’s language development, using the real names–penis, scrotum, clitoris and vagina. If you say these words in a matter-of-fact way, your children should not be embarrassed about using these words.
If They Ask
If preschool children ask you where babies come from, give a simple answer. The Kids Health website suggests that you simply say that the baby grows from an egg in the woman’s womb, while pointing to your stomach. Then, you can say that the baby comes out of your vagina. That should be enough to satisfy their curiosity.
Explain About Lovemaking
When children are around 6 years old and want to know more, you can tell them that when a man and woman love each other, they want to be close. A man’s sperm will join a woman’s egg, and a baby begins to grow.
If Your Child Never Asks
Not all children will ask you about sex. If your child has not asked you anything by the time they are age 5, you should bring it up. Ask him if they have ever wondered where babies come from. If he still says no, tell them that kids at school might start talking about this, and that you want him to know the truth. Then, give them a short explanation. If that leads to questions, then you can answer them as they come up. You can also buy children’s books that talk about sex.
School
Many schools teach sex education in the fifth or sixth grade. Your children should have talked with you about sex long before this. You can ask them if they have any questions about what they talked about in school. If you have been talking with them about sex all along, your children should have no problem including you in what they are discussing in school.
Menstruation
Mothers should talk to their daughters about menstruation at around age 8. Moms can tell their daughters what to expect, what it will feel like and what do if the period starts when she is away from home.
Misconceptions
Burying your head in the sand is not going to prevent your child from getting pregnant. Many parents today have the mistaken belief that their teenage children are not interested in sex, according to a 2010 study from North Carolina State University and reported on the Science Daily website. These parents think other teens are trying to lure their teens into sex. Parents of a boy might think that a teenage girl is trying to solidify the relationship by luring their son into having sex, or they believe that their daughter is going to be taken advantage of by sex-crazed boys. These stereotypes are not constructive. In fact, these stereotypes paint sexuality in a negative light, according to Science Daily website.
