Ahhh, the birds and the bees talk. Cringe, fear, embarrassment. Feeling any of the above yet? A four year old asks, "how are babies made?" an eight year old, "what's a condom?" you overhear a fifteen year old say, ".....that's not really sex." My favorite is when I overheard a six(ish) year old girl ask her mom, at the top of her lungs in an unusually crowded Trader Joes, "BUT HOW DOES A DADDY'S SEED GET INSIDE THE MOMMY?" What to do about the sex talk?
TRY THIS: Kids are curious about everything -from why dinosaurs are extinct to why they have (or don't have a penis). Tackle their specific sex question as you would any question: what information can this four, eight, twelve, fifteen year old understand? When a seven year old asks, "What is the holocaust?" or "How are cars made?" Think of how you might answer the question in a way that is developmentally appropriate for that seven year old. How much information do they need to know? How much of your answer will they be able to understand. Same thing goes for the sex questions.
NOT THAT: Ummm, I don't know. Maybe that's a question for when you are older.
WHY: Kids who grow up feeling comfortable communicating with their parents about sex are more likely to talk to them when real issues come up. Additionally, you are helping your child develop a healthy attitude towards sex and sexuality. And last but not least, you can serve as a key source of information which can help dispel myths (perpetuated by peers) and you can share your own attitudes. Dodging the question is a missed teaching opportunity.
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