What sex education books are recommended for a child aged 9 years or older?
It’s the winter school holidays in Australia and there is no better time to research some sex education books for your pre-teen child aged from 9 years and up. I have over 300 books on my website and more and more are written each year, which I think is fantastic!
As with many parents that I meet, when I was growing up there were two books, ‘Where Did I Come From’ and ‘What’s Happening to Me’ by Peter Mayle. Check them out here.
These books are still popular, but it’s great to see more options emerging because often pre-teens don’t always want to read a book with lots of pictures in it as they might seem babyish.
However, every child is unique, with their own circumstances and preferences, and so are families. Factors like reading level, comprehension ability, questions, interests, experiences, family values, culture, and faith background can all influence the choice of books. A child’s physical and emotional maturity also plays a role too. So why not research book before your child does or visit a library and choose a book together.
If your child is a reluctant reader, strategically placing the book on a coffee table or in their bedroom, can sometimes mean that they pick up the book in their own private space and time, even if they don’t look at it straight away.
Here are ten children sex education books recommended for pre-teens and teens
‘Welcome to Sex’ by Dr Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes
for children aged 13 and up. With case studies, first-person accounts and questions from real teens. Topics include being ready to have or not to have sex, exploring pleasure on your own, becoming sexually intimate with others, contraception and staying safe, how to communicate about sex, and talking to your parents about sex.
‘The Puberty Book’ by Wendy Darvill and Kelsey Powell
for kids aged 8 to 12. This book gives factual information about where babies come from while remaining straightforward and conversational.
‘That’s How I Began’ by Gina Dawson
for kids aged 8 to 12. This book gives factual information about where babies come from while remaining straightforward and conversational.
‘The Secret Business of Relationships, Love and Sex’ by Anderson, Angelo and Stewart
for children aged 11-16 years helps teens to understand the changes during puberty and focuses on the issues around sexuality and relationships.
‘Nonnie Talks about Sex & More’ is part of a book series written by Mary Jo Podgurski
for children aged 8 to 12. The story shares about 2 children talking to their grandmother about a sexting issue. The grandmother then helps the kids understand what has happened by discussing sexuality with them, as well as relevant topics like pornography and consent.
‘You Know Sex’ by Cory Silverberg
is written with a modern approach to learning for kids aged 10 and up is about bodies, gender, puberty
‘Me, Myself and I’ by Louise Spilsbury
is written for older pre-teens and teens aged 11-16 with topics including puberty and also information about becoming more independent, dating, sex and contraception.
Let’s Talk About Sex
this book was created by Planned Parenthood for children aged 9-12 years in an effort to encourage conversations about the issues around sexuality and relationships to help pre-teens become sexually responsible adults in the future.
‘Healthy For Life: Sex and Relationships’ by Anna Claybourne
for kids aged 9 and up. It’s part of the ‘Healthy for Life’ series. The book helps kids understand what sex is all about and provides practical advice on building healthy relationships.
‘Brilliant Questions about Growing Up: Simple Answers about Bodies and Boundaries’ by Amy Forbes-Robertson and Alex Fryer
for children aged from 10 years and up. It provides answers to many questions and topics around bodies, safety, puberty, sex, gender and consent.
Final Words
Sex Education books can help support you as a parent or caregiver to educate your child when you don’t always know what to say or how to say it. Let’s face it, sometimes our pre-teens do not want the information from us, so books are another way for them to learn.
Moreover, sex education books foster curiosity and open up ongoing conversations. They answer questions and stimulate new ones. Children are naturally curious and ask important questions like ‘Why do people have sex?’ or ‘How do people have sex?’ or ‘What does sex actually mean?’ I encounter these types of questions every day from the pre-teens I teach. Books can help you become an approachable and open-minded parent or caregiver.
More blogs and books about sex education books
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My interactive courses about puberty and reproduction:
This interactive course is about our bodies, how babies are made and more. It is ideal for both parents/carers to do together with their pre-teens but can also be completed by a child on their own. There are two separate courses for children aged 7-9 years or 9-12 years.
Click on one of the buttons below to purchase the course for only AUD $49:
What’s the Big Deal About Puberty is my interactive online course about puberty.
This puberty course is ideal for both parents/carers to do together with their pre-teens aged 9-12 years. This can also be completed by your child on their own.
Click below to buy the course for only AUD $69.
