Yesterday was National Sex Education Day. It’s a day that is intentionally set out for parents and educators to take the time to talk to kids for just ten minutes in an age appropriate language about sex. It’s a day where we can be intentional about conversations about sex in our everyday lives whether that’s watching ’Married at First Sight’ (it started last night in Australia) or asking your child about whether they know what porn is? For young children, that might be with a book about consent. With older children you might talk about sex, sexuality and relationships. Why do we need to talk about sex you may ask? Well Kim at teenworldconfidential.com says that talking to kids about sex and relationships can change their futures — and the world and I do agree. Sex education, at home, in school, and even at the doctor’s office has a broad range of effects, including:
✓ Improving self-esteem and self-image
✓ Reducing at-risk sexual behaviour
✓ Reducing teenage pregnancy
✓ Higher grades, test scores, and educational outcomes
Kim mentions in her website https://internationalsexeducationday.com/ some ways that you can start having age appropriate conversations. It does not just have to be today. For infants that conversation is holding hugging and being positive. For toddlers and pre-schoolers that is warm, open conversations about consent and body awareness. For tweens and teens that is modelling healthy relationships, and open and honest conversations about sex and sexuality. So, no matter what you believe, your faith or values you can incorporate all of this information into your conversations with your children.
Did you know that research suggests sex education empowers your child to make wiser decisions around sex in the future … and that parents are important in developing a healthy sexuality. Ten minutes! Be brave! Be intentional! After all it was National Sex Education Day yesterday!
