When Is The Right Time For Sex Education?

[ToraToraTora]

A pal of mine has just told me his son has been given sex education at the age of 9. Now he's using what he's learnt to ask embarrasing questions to all and sundry and is in all sorts of trouble in school and with relatives generally and cannot understand why. I remember sex education at the age of approx 13-14. Surely 9 is far too young to get a proper grasp of this difficult subject so why are primary school childreen being burdened so young?

[Zacs-Master]

Merry-go-round was a sex ed programme in the late 60's early 70's. I think I've got the name right.

[MadMen]

"he's now going around confirming what sort of "equipment" people have."

I'm just going to say it, this sounds like a very immature 9 year old - therefore I don't think he's able to cope with such topics just yet.

[ToraToraTora]

ummmm, yes and he could learn how to make a nuclear bomb on the internet but I don't he would set out to learn either from the outset. 9 Is far too young for this subject.

[ummmm]

My kids have never needed sex education. They have older cousins....

[MadMen]

"Merry-go-round was a sex ed programme in the late 60's early 70's. I think I've got the name right. "

I would Google it, but I'm on my son's laptop and it's got age restrictions.... lol

[ummmm]

Tora, I don't agree.

The are not telling 9 year olds what the best positions are. It's human biology...

[Octavius]

My 6 and 4 year old girls know where babies come from and know that they come out of womens 'bits', or in mummies case, through a scar in her tummy! They are also constantaly wittering on and giggling about mens willies, bums, big boobies, bits, trumps and burping. I think they get this from their mother.

[MadMen]

Lol Ummmm.

If that's all they covered, the two different body parts, then I wouldn't be worried.
They can't call them child-like names forever!

[ToraToraTora]

"I'm just going to say it, this sounds like a very immature 9 year old - therefore I don't think he's able to cope with such topics just yet."

correct madmen so let's leave it for a few years then.

[ummmm]

Exactly....they are not daft so tell them the facts.

[Mamyalynne]

The right age to start is from the moment they ask the first question , answer that and go from there.

As regards Schools, as already said a far judgement has to made, if left until 13/14 our teenage pregnancy rates would triple I fear.

My 9 year old grandson (autistic and very inquisitive) often tries to educate me LOL , he is quite surprised sometimes when I inform him I know already. If you are open and honest they won't go far wrong.

[MadMen]

Yep, as I said before, I think full-on SE classes should be for secondary school. There's just no need.

[ummmm]

I still use child names for private parts :-)

[joeluke]

My son had sex education from the age of 7

Didn't want him to as it's a ridiculously early age, but his mother didn't want him singled out as the only one in the class not partaking so despite my protestations he had the lessons

So at the age of 7 he still believed in Santa and the Tooth Fairy but also knew what a clitoris was!!!

Kids innocence is taken away far too early these days by things like this

[keyplus90]

After you are married.

[jd_1984]

9 seems awfully young to me. I appreciate that kids are perhaps having sex younger than a couple of generations ago (dont have stats for that but its a common pre-conception these days)
But I agree that sex ed should be before or around the time of puberty, several years before the age of consent for sexual intercourse but no so young as primary school age, surely??

[jd_1984]

However, at 9, do most kids know "where babies come from?"
And is this sex education merely that, rather than the safe way to put on a condom etc as i remember sex ed??

[joeluke]

IMO when they reach secondary school age (11) that is more than early enough in life for Sex Education

[MadMen]

JL, I'm very surprised at that. I would have thought you would have put your foot down!

[McMouse]

We lived next to a livestock farm when I was a child and I had it figured out by the time I was 6 or 7.