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Discussing the birds and the bees with your child could be the key to protecting them from sexual abuse.
Are you uncomfortable with speaking to your children about sex? Well, you're not alone. Many parents are unsure of how to broach the subject, or even wonder whether they should. Meg Hickley, author of Speaking of Sex finds that the task of sexual health education is made much easier if it's approached like a science. "Many people are very afraid of the title sex education so I use body science because it puts adults at ease when they realize that I am simply going to be teaching children about their sexual health, and it puts the children at ease who are very grossed out about anything to do with sex. So I say we are going to learn about your body like a scientist."
Meg adds that parents should never fear that they're giving their children too much information. "Many parents are afraid that they will say too much, or that they will frighten or embarrass their children when talking about sexuality. My advice would be to begin in the preschool years because then they accept it. You can never say too much as long as you keep it science and health oriented. My advice too, is to talk until their eyes glaze over and they beg for mercy because you need to grab every teachable moment to talk."
Meg says there are many reasons we want to educate our children about their body and sexual health, but one reason that stands about above all others. "I think that parents' most compelling reason for using scientific language is that it makes your child abuse resistant. Sexual offenders tell me when they look for a child to abuse, they first look for a child who has no scientific vocabulary. A child doesn't learn the scientific works on TV. A parent had to teach them, and that means that child has permission to talk."
Adapted from The Parent Report Radio Show. Any advice or information contained herein should never be a substitute for professional and/or medical advice, diagnosis and treatment. For more information please review Terms of Service.
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