When Should You Talk to Your Children About Sex? Every parent on this Earth fears the sex talk. They put it off for as long as they can, hoping that eventually the need for it will go away and the child will remain pure for as long as possible. Some parents even forbid the mention of sex until the child is grown-up because God-forbid they learn about it and start having it all the time!
In truth, though, this kind of thinking is wrong. It will make y our child grow up with some misconceptions that can’t be fixed – or worse, bring you a grandson in the house when they are only 14.
The Unexpected Questions
Picture this moment: You’re having dinner with your spouse and your 6-year-old boy. When the child is asked what he wants to be when he grows up, you smile sweetly when he says that he wants to be a daddy.
The magic is lost, however, when your kid continues with “I don’t know for sure if I want that either because I’d have to pee in my wife.” Goodbye, dinner, for you just choked on your mashed potatoes.
Every parent is at a loss for words when their kid suddenly brings up the sex talk. However, if you want some advice, never avoid a teachable moment. Indeed, when your child is still a toddler or at an age where he or she barely understands, you may get away with telling them that the stork brought them; they won’t remember it anyway.
However, once they reach 5 or 6, they are starting to remember and understand certain things – so if they pop up with an honest sex question, don’t dodge it. You made them, so you better teach them as well.
How to Say the Right Thing
When your child asks sex-related questions, don’t avoid them – but don’t over-share either. For example, if the child only asks “How do babies come out of your body?” you should only answer with things such as “Through an opening that I have between my legs, which is there exactly for this purpose.” If he or she did not ask how the baby ended up there in the first place, don’t bring it up. Remember baby steps.
Even from an early age, children should learn about their own private parts. Name all their body parts and don’t be ashamed to add the words “penis” or “vagina” in their vocabulary. The earlier you do this, the easier it will be for you to explain things in the future. Children catch on faster than you think.
Final Thoughts
It’s never too early to talk to your child about sex. If you clear these questions right from the start, you may be able to avoid a parental disaster in the future – simply because you talked to them.
Try becoming an “askable” parent and never shoot down your children’s questions. Not only will you be offering them a valuable gift, but you can also be certain that they’ll come to you when they have a question – and not directly with the grandchild, simply because you were too much of a prude to talk to them.
