Many parents may feel awkward if talk about sex with their children. In fact, sex education is very important given to children, so that they can have the attitude and fairyresponsible behavior related to sexual health and reproductive processes.
Providing sex education to children, can help them avoid deviations and the dangers of sexual abuse. Children will also understand how to maintain the health of their sexual and reproductive organs.
In addition, of course it can also help them to understand the risks of premarital sexual relations, especially those that are not protected. For example, the risk of getting pregnant out of wedlock or contracting a sexually transmitted disease.
How to Give Sex Education to Children
In some schools, teachers may teach sex education as part of children's education. However, parents should also teach it. Very likely, your child will be more open and listen to your explanations than the teacher's explanation at school.
The right time to discuss sex education for children is when the child begins to enter puberty, which is around 12 years old. This is because children have gained basic knowledge about the development of female and male organs and their functions. In addition, some children may also already know what sexual activity is like and its function for married couples.
Here are some ways to talk about sex education with your child:
- Talking about sex with children should be done gently. Do not use a patronizing tone, so that children are lazy to listen to it.
- A supportive atmosphere is very important to start this conversation. For example, when there is news about promiscuity in the mass media, you can take advantage of this situation to insert the topic of sex into the conversation.
- Before providing information, prepare yourself, and avoid fear or awkwardness in providing sex education to children.
- Also, be prepared to answer questions your child may ask that might surprise you.
- Provide factual knowledge, and don't hide reality just because you don't feel comfortable talking about it.
- Make it a two-way conversation. Let your child express his opinion about sex. If his opinion is against casual sex, you can be relieved, because it turns out he understands what is a good thing and a bad thing to do. But if he supports free sex, do not immediately Try to hear his opinion about it. Take this opportunity to provide sex education to him. Guide him to be able to think logically in determining the right sexual decisions.
- Tell him that you are ready to talk to him about anything, including sex.
What Sex Topics Can Be Talked About?
There is no shame in talking about sex, including the activities in it, because your child must be given clear information about this. Here are some topics you can talk about:
- Adjustment to physical development, especially sexual and reproductive organs. Including how to maintain the cleanliness and health of these organs.
- Existing socio-cultural norms and values, related to sexual aspects.
- Risks of premarital sex, and planning the right age of marriage and gestational age.
- Provision of sexual knowledge in order to build communication skills and children's confidence to fight negative things.
- Explain the risk of getting sexually transmitted diseases due to casual sex, such as chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea, genital herpes, genital warts, or HIV/AIDS.
- Introducing Human Rights and gender equality, in order to prevent discrimination and avoid sexual harassment.
- Helping children understand the wise use of social media, in order to avoid bad influences on their sexual behavior.
By teaching sex education to children, parents can provide an understanding of sexual health. It is recommended not to try to prohibit it by forcing or using elements of violence, because it can actually make the child more tempted to do it.
Provide children with adequate information, and support their ability to think logically in order to be able to maintain health and make responsible decisions. You can also consult a pediatrician, as well as a child psychology consultation service, to get recommendations for the right sex education for your child.
