There's No Place Like Home for Sex Education: 5 Years

Kids Need to Know... Parents Need to Tell Them

Certainly by age 5, a child has a good idea about where mom and dad stand on the subject of sex … and whether it's ok to even talk about it. From birth, children receive an array of messages about sexuality from their parents: infants who are held and cuddled learn about loving touch; toddlers exploring their bodies quickly discover their sexual parts—and their parents' reactions to their exploration; the preschooler who asks her dad, "Where's my penis?" becomes aware if sexual questions are ok to discuss (or not) in her family.

The 5-year-old has had a bit of experience in the world: interactions with family; exposure to other children and differing beliefs; TV, movies, magazines, advertising, music … which influence the developing sense of sexuality, either directly or indirectly. Children cannot avoid the sexual messages that permeate life today.

Natural situations, everyday moments and events lend themselves to a child's sex education. With or without your consent they occur, as the life and learning processes of your children unfold.

Parents may respond with silence, disgust, scolding … implying that sexuality is negative or dirty. Or, they may respond with delight, using these opportunities to offer loving, honest explanations … teaching the child that sexuality is a wonderful part of being human.

Families have so much to gain from open communication about sex. Taking the initiative to develop a dialogue of trust, parents can pass along important family values. Children have the opportunity to gain accurate information and a positive regard for sexuality.

The time to start this dialogue is early—earlier in fact than many parents would suspect. In today's complex world, perhaps even more so than in the past, children need and deserve thoughtful, purposeful sex education from day one.

But it's never too late to begin. And while you as a parent will not be your children's only sex educator, you can be (and are) their first and most important.

"What Will The Neighbors Think?"

Everyone has his/her own feelings about sexuality and about messages that are appropriate for children. Chances are you'll find family members, friends and neighbors whose ideas and values are very different from your own. This can challenge your resolve to communicate openly and honestly with your child about sex. It may help to keep in mind what's at stake here … and what's more important: your child's needs, or the opinion of others?

There's a lot to be said for the child who knows that s/he can depend on mom and dad to respond to sexual questions and concerns with respect, support and honesty.

"But what if he goes around the neighborhood, sharing this information with all his friends? 'Then what?"

So what. Let's face it. Kids frequently compare information with each other about sex, whether parents want them to or not. Usually it's misinformation. The bottom line here is that children deserve quality sex education. Parents need not apologize for providing that education—no matter who objects.

Here We Go Again 

The sexual curiosities of your 5-year-old aren't so different from the ones at ages 3 and 4. You may think, "I'm sure I told you where babies come from," or "We've already discussed what "bellybuttons" are all about, remember?"

Your 5-year-old probably doesn't remember. There's so much to learn … and this is complex stuff. Maybe your child does remember (sort of), and is just checking to make sure it's still ok to talk about sexual issues with you. Please be patient and supportive.

The goal of family sex education goes beyond the mere presentation of facts. Ideally, parents seek to nurture in their child positive attitudes toward his/her body, gender, and sexuality. One way to do this is to continue to be "askable" … encourage sexual questions, acknowledge and discuss sexual behaviors, and initiate conversations about sexual issues.

But Scott's Dad Said...

As your 5-year-old becomes more involved with others (in preschool, kindergarten, etc.), s/he will also be exposed to differing family attitudes and values. It can be terribly confusing, so it's important that parents reemphasize personal beliefs. For example:

• Johnny: Scott's Dad got really mad today. He yelled at us for taking our clothes off.
• Dad: What did he say?
• J: He said we were nasty. We told him we were just pretending to be doctors, but he yelled at us again and made us put on our clothes.

Scott's dad was alarmed at seeing his son and another boy undressed, looking at and touching each other's body. Perhaps he worried this was "abnormal," maybe he was upset because he believes nudity is inappropriate. His anger left the children feeling hurt, ashamed and "nasty."