That should be child abuse

So agree with this. So many parents let their kids scream and throw things in stores or public places and hold to their "let them scream it out" philosophy. No, the kid has had enough of being in that situation, you take them outside. I also have an ASD and ADHD child so yes it is possible to remove them from a situation they are not enjoying whilst also being mindful to people around you also. I've had to pack up and leave so many situations for this reason, restaurants, shops, public transport (and walk a couple of miles in the rain instead). It is possible and you learn what the tolerances of your kids are, noisy bright places were generally no go areas for me.

Headphones exist

It's better teaching them properly than them learning about it in the school yard from other kids. I sat down with my daughter when she was 8-9 and watched "What is happening to me" and "Where did I come from". They are cartoon style but informative and then afterwards we had a chat about what she saw and if she had any questions. I also made sure she knows she can come to me and ask me anything and I will answer the best I can. I believe it is important to have open lines of communication.

It is a little awkward and uncomfortable but has to be done. Caught my 12 year old looking at porn and my first thought was wow I should have had this talk sooner. Tried to not embarrass him. Didn't punish. Basically it was I get you're curious and that's OK. I don't know a single guy that doesn't look at porn at least occasionally. But at any age, especially yours when you're still developing, it can also be damaging. What you saw doesn't reflect real sex at all.

Ooooo, this one makes me so mad!!! From the time my kid was about 2 I would educate her on the proper name for her body parts. I wanted her to know what they were called. I used the scientific names and let her know it was normal to talk about her body. She is 15 now and has conversations with me about her period and her body because it's normal and she knows I won't shame her. She knows she can talk to me about sex too because I have shown her from the beginning that these are natural human experiences and that I can handle the convos with her. I am hoping that this will lead her to have a much more healthy adult experience in life. I hope!

Teach your kids about sex. Teach them the PROPER names for their body parts. Teach them about rules for their body (bodily autonomy). Teach them about puberty (male AND female no matter what gender they are). Teach them about contraceptives. There's no reason for a grown man not to know what periods are. There's no reason people should be getting pregnant bc they dont know what causes pregnancy or how to prevent it. Teacher your kids.

I will say that if you give your kids access to a reputable source about sex, that can be OK. Scarleteen is a good one, and the magazines I read when I was a teenager had articles about stuff like contraception and other things we need to do for sexual health, like Pap smears.

Also, teach your sons as well because if you don't teach them what is and is NOT appropriate behavior, someone else will, and it might just be a pedophile. Make sure your kids understand what is an inappropriate conversation topic with older teens and adults and especially what is inappropriate touching, showing, or suggestions of such. What they don't know can hurt them. Make sure they understand that it is ALWAYS okay to come to you if they have any questions or concerns. Lastly, make sure they know that unless they hear it from YOU, nothing is okay just because another adult said it was and that includes relatives.

My boys (7 and 9) know about periods and how babies are made, just tell them in a way that a child would understand.

I never had the talk. I was educated via my friends and the period where we’d all read the worst fanfiction we could find for fun. Some kids learn it from worse people and off porn. So yeah, as someone who never got the talk, please give the talk.

You don't need to "teach" them as such. If you just honestly answer their questions in a factual fashion then they'll learn and, furthermore, they will learn at the pace that is appropriate for them.

If they are mature enough to ask, parents should be mature enough to answer

I am unsure about this. As to when and how. A colleague at work told us this “cute” story when she educated their 6 or so year old and how they were talking about what they had to put where if they wanted a baby, basically on the playground. And that kinda isn’t how I would like to do it. But the again I don’t yet know when is the right time to which extend. But we all should agree that proper education is important. Preferably before the first period as example. Know someone who thought she was gonna die now as she didn’t know what was happening. And this is a memory for life...

This is by no means a new trend!

They'll hear it from you, or someone else.. God knows what they have to listen to- be the first one to talk to your kids about this!!

Also doing it far too late when the school has already taught it and everyone else knows about it is just awful. Don't make your teenagers sit down and tell them about how mummy and daddy (you) made them. That's just cruel. Do it just before school does and be informative and not vague about it. Sugar coated information is not information. Best way is to explain it when they're still young enough that their response is "ew, gross", obviously you can then tell them it's natural and not gross, but much better than waiting and telling them waaaay too late when they already found out from other kids and experimented because it sounded cool.

Regan's and the GOP Christian Moral Majority abstinence only sex education was the backbone of me being the father of 3 by age 16. Pre-interlink days, sex ed was hard to come by back in those days. We teach children the dangers and consequences of drugs, and only teach abstinence only and body shame normal healthy body development and functions. We need to educate our kids.

What surprises me, is that at 61, I had much better sex education/health education (in the US) than my children had made available to them. We started about 4th grade, with the teachers giving us the science part of the reproduction system, and how everything works with both males and females. At that age, we didn't really ask too many questions, because we just didn't quite "get" it. But they kept giving us classes every year, and as we got older, we got more information about the actual sex part of it, along with the repercussions of unprotected sex, etc. It was never a morality lesson, simply health. My mother loved it, because she didn't have to explain it to us, she said.

My parents weren't afraid to have that discussion with me because they knew that it was important.

This one I’m so glad I got, I was educated by 3-4 on how’s and what’s, and then again at 10-11 with the detailed stuff. I have an extremely low bed room count compared to friends with no or way too late sex talks. Even things as small as vaginal health, not wearing wet swimmers, don’t use Vaseline as lube etc so much vagina abuse just from not educating your daughters.

Also educating males and females about the opposite gender so they can be somewhat empathetic to the things they experience. For example, males should know about the female period and female genitals and vice verse with males and puberty and genitals.

The schools in Mn. have been teaching this subject for decades. In my youth, one x in 5th grade and done. (1968) By 1980, there was more instruction given. By the time my children got to 8th grade, even more, details were taught. My folks (1945 or so) got nothing.... my mom was unaware til the 1st time of her cycle. Dad? you would have thought raised on a dairy farm he would have been more knowledgeable. My mom had to explain that cows and humans have things in common.

When we brought a sex-ed type class to the Unitarian Church, I was amazed how many people mentioned they did not want to teach the topic to their kids. My lesson was a basic video in grade school with my mother. She gave me all the supplies and some pamphlets then said "If you have any questions just ask". I so wish we'd had more information. That's why I was happy to bring back sex-ed at the church. It was a great class called Our Whole Lives.

it's not something forbidden. it's not something they should do until they're older, but you still want to educate them well beforehand

Better option: Have the schools do it for you! Basic sex education starts in 4th grade here in Germany

Then ur a grandma at 40

I so agree with this I started to talk to my girls about consent and sex ( age appropriate) as soon as they were able to understand ( using age appropriate books) we talk about periods and when they ask a question I answer as honestly as I can. And now that there intheir teens they talk to me honestly and know I won't judge them and will always tell them the truth ( although sometimes blushing lol) it's important for kids to understand how intimate relationships wo

Or misinformation! My mom, who was a prude even in 1950's standards, always taught me I would never enjoy sex until I was married. Like the wedding ring is an aphrodisiac or something.

my science teacher taught us the sex ed in 6th grade. we were like 10-11

Difficult as it is, it's vital today. It's not school yard chatter anymore it's full on access to porn. No talk about consent, what's right, what's wrong, what respect is and even what bodies Look like normally not those with labiaplasty work. I got a very poor sex ed because my school did the very basics at 11 and the more detailed around 14-15. I moved schools and the second school had already covered it. As a result I only had the most ignorant understanding. My parents told me a little when I was 8, lucky as I started my periods at 9. I'm Asexual so luckily wasn't bothered but only found out about That in my mid 40s. Parents, schools they both have a duty and sadly as young as possible in this Internet every where world 😔

Communication is key in parenting!

If you're uncomfortable discussing topics that you think are uncomfortable, you're not fit to be a parent.

It’s not only wrong, it’s dangerous, especially for girls.

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Gee. I wonder if there were any statistics that maybe illustrate this exact point. It would be the worldwide rampant teen pregnancy, would it?