Are Toddlers Too Young For Sex Education?

For parents, sex education is a strange mix of awkwardness and controversy. Not everyone is comfortable with sex, even as an adult, and that may effect how (or if) they talk about sex with their kids. Most people agree that parents should have some sort of sex talk with their kids, but a recent sex education guide recommends starting the talk at age two.

This new guide, published by an Australian research center, brings up an interesting debate: should toddlers be aware of sex? It makes sense that children should not be totally ignorant of sex, or the correct names of their body parts. It is much better that they learn from their parents first instead of hearing bits and pieces of misinformation from their peers.

If you are a kid and start having sexual feelings and don’t know what they are, you could feel that they are wrong or scary. Or if something horrible occurs where a child is misused sexually, they need to have the correct language and awareness to communicate what happened to them. While I agree that there is a limit to what children should know that young, complete ignorance of sex or their body parts can be dangerous and confusing. The key, as with everything, is to be age appropriate.

And while potty training might be a great time to teach them about their penis, it’s probably too early for the condom talk.

Contact the author here: jennY@morningquickie.com