The Importance of Early Sex Education for Children
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At What Age Should Parents Talk to Their Children About Sex?
Curiosity to learn more about sex is a natural step in learning about the human anatomy. Sex education is important as it helps the children in understanding about the human body as well as helping them in feeling positive about their bodies. According to Roffman (2012), children are interested in babies and pregnancy, rather than the sex mechanics. Discussion about sex between a child and his or her parent forms part of having open communication. Early, open and honest communication between the children and their parents is critical, especially when the child reaches the adolescence age. When the parent has open communication with their children in a normal way, the children are more likely to freely speak with their parents about other adolescent trials such as drugs and alcohol abuse, relationships, depression as well as issues about sex.
Beginning a talk about sex early in life and continuing with that conversation as the child is growing is the best strategy for sex education (Gilkerson, 2014). It prevents the parents from giving one uncomfortable and big talk when the child has reached adolescence. At adolescence stage, the child most likely would have gotten misinformation and information from different sources such as friends, social media and internet. These sex talks are always easy when they emanate from life experience, like the child seeing a baby or a pregnant woman
When the parents have a conversation with their children about sex, they can ensure that the child is getting the right information. It is important that the parent become the first source of information for the child about sex. Getting and understanding the correct information can protect the children from getting misinformed or engaging in risky behaviour as they are growing up (Roffman, 2012).
References
Gilkerson, L. (2014). The talk: 7 lessons to introduce your child to biblical sexuality.
Roffman, D. (2012). Talk to Me First: Everything You Need to Know to Become Your Kids’ “”Go-To”” Person about Sex. New York: Da Capo Press.