"The birds and the bees"

How do you think children should be taught sex education? What age is appropriate? Should it be a phased approach, where you start off on a "need to know basis"? Are there any "no go" areas? What about the emotional side to a sexual relationship? What about the blunt facts?

WYO?

I really don't know how to handle this one with my lo's. On the one side I want to be open and honest to help my girls develop a healthy confident relationships with their body and relationship and also know what they are ok about and not ok about. On the other I am terrified about over sexualising my kids before they are ready - if that makes sense. Almost a fear of taking their innocence and childhood away too quickly...whilst feeling that my own view seems a bit victorian as I want well rounded confident children lol cake and eat it

I think for me a phased approach fits with how we do things. Introducing relationships and emotions goes on from a very early age so i guess we have already started in one way. In terms of birds and the bees i think i need to do some more research to decide how i feel about it and what approach we will take. I want to be open and feel comfortable about most things...yet still cannot bring myself to use proper terms for personal body areas!

I reckon there are things you can introduce from a very early age that is done in such a way that it educates without overcomplicating. For example i want my children to know about 'good touching and bad touching' (not sure of proper title) that i know is done in states but not sure about uk wrt abuse. I do want them to know about bodily changes and that everyone is different. Emotional deveopment for me is a must component as it goes hand in hand. Relationships also are so important to cover.

In terms of blunt facts, for me i don't know the best age. All kids are different so it is tough to say what is right. Again research needed for me!

I realise i'm not really answering the original post but i am intrigued as to others ideas on this too as it is such a minefield of opinion.

Jo x

I have a 11 year old girl ( who is very hormonal), I have always answered any questions that the kids have had with an answer that was suitable for there age at that time. I had to have that chat with DD1 when she was 9. she had been watch BB and a boy and a girl where under the covers and she asked what they where doing I said oh having a cuddle and she said "I thought that they where having S.E.X.. so I sat her down and asked her what she knew about that word and I filled in the gaps. The period talk last year was hard (for me). I also wanted to be the one to have "that talk" with my kids as I dont feel that it is a teacher place. DD1 did sex ed this year and last year ( P6 and P7).

I dont have a clue on how to have that talk with DS so I am leaving that one up to daddy. kids learn a lot of this stuff in the playground but all lot of the talk in the playground is hear say and half truths so I think that it is our job to sit them down get them to tell you what they know and fill in the gaps and tell them the truth.