Parents have to expect the unexpected from their children. But one thing that every parent knows will happen is that there will come a time when his or her child enters puberty. So it’s a good idea to think about when to start talking to your child about sex.
It is not uncommon for parents to have questions or be uncertain about how to start having discussions about sex with their children. The reality is that all parents will eventually have to address this issue. Unfortunately, the sad fact of the matter is that many parents avoid or delay doing so or may even feel embarrassed or hesitant about it.
From my personal experience, it is not wise to wait for a child to approach adolescence before talking about the birds and bees. In this fast-paced world of the Internet, cell phones and cable television, the earlier you begin having age-appropriate conversations about sex with your child, the better.
The best thing to do is to be direct and honest. When kids ask questions, answer them but do not lecture. Experience teaches us that a parent has less than 15 seconds to answer a child’s question, so take the time to answer without launching into a lecture.
Use your experience and ask questions about their knowledge first, and speak of sex as being natural, like breathing or sleeping.
It is also essential that parents talk about the consequences and health risks of sexual activity, along with associated protective behaviors. From this perspective, it should be no different than speaking with our children about safety when crossing the street or driving a car. This means that these lessons should begin early in life, preferably around the third grade.
Talking with your kids about sex entails listening, and is not as difficult as it seems. Yes, it may be admittedly uncomfortable, but being open, honest and providing them with fundamental information will serve the interest of both parent and child in the long term. –torrance stephens, ph.d.
