Sex Education Starts at Home: If You Don't Teach Your Child, Someone Else Will.

Sex education is a very important discussion. Our children are growing a world that they will hear about sex, information about sex is just a click away. And if parents fail to educate them first about sex, someone else will do that. The Internet will teach them and this is where they begin to go wrong. Parents need to have this conversation with kids. I know it's difficult, but it's very needful and essential to have sex talk with growing children.

In our current world, with the influence of the Internet, peers, and socia media, information about sex is easily accessible. These children might find sexual content without parents realizing they already did. This is why parents need to take it upon themselves to educate kids about sex first. Children get influenced by their parents first, and this is why they always need guidance and support from their parents.Sex education doesn't have to start with a deep conversation about sexual intercourse, because that will only build curiosity and might not end well.

Sex Education doesn't have to be one big sex conversation, it's a conversation that should start early and keep growing as they mature. It should be an age appropriate conversation that teaches kids body autonomy, their privacy and also boundaries to be created, and very importantly, why certain body parts shouldn't be accessed and exposed to others, whether male or female. Also, making sure kids understand that no one is permitted to access their private body part and why, making sure they understand the difference between appropriate and inappropriate touch from both women and men.

While educating kids, it's very important to make they understand that they shouldn't be ashamed of communicating when a particular situation feels off or uncomfortable, they should always communicate with their parents without fear and shame.
Children should understand that touching from others should never be kept as secrets, and they should open up to their parents when things like that happens.

Immediately kids begin to approach puberty, it's important to have this conversation more often with them, because they begin to experience physical and emotional changes. It's at this point that parents should start having conversations like relationships with the opposite and same gender, teach them to overcome peer pressure, understand consent, boundaries and the responsibilities, burden and risk that comes with sexual activities. This information might not stop them, but allows them to make informed decisions, makes them build healthy and safe relationships.

Also, conversations about sex should be tailored based on age; A child of 6 years doesn't need the same information given to a child of 14years. The education should be based on the child's understanding. Age and maturity matter.

Parents should make sure children understand consent and boundaries, they should understand that they own their body and a No should be respected and respect other people's decisions too.
It's also important to note that sexual education also involves pornography, sexting, sharing private pictures, and a restriction/ boundaries to place when communicating with strangers. Online safety is also as important as physical safety.

Creating a judgement free environment for kids. This will help them open up and not keep secrets from parents. Children tend to be comfortable when they don't feel judged.

Discuss and teach the consequences of sex with children, consequences like pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and the emotional and physical consequences that come with these consequences. They should learn these consequences to guide their decisions and lifestyle. The goal is to prevent danger and risky behavior amongst kids, and protect them from harms.

Build a relationship where children will feel comfortable approaching their parents with questions/concerns and their mistakes.

We shouldn't be embarrassed or forbid sex talk, if educating kids about sex is treated as forbidden and embarrassing topic by parents, it will only make kids learn the wrong knowledge from peers , strangers and social media. Parents should teach and educate kids by creating a safe and judgement free environment where their curiosity about sex can be satisfied and they can ask the right questions and given an age appropriate answer.

The goal of sexual education isn't to encourage sexual activities, it's clearly to educate them with knowledge, confidence, teach them to identify abuse and make the right decision. An open line and easy access to always communicate with us may be one of the greatest protections parents can give their kids.