However, this does not mean that you should talk to your five year old about condoms and birth control. Basic sex education starts from the very basics. Sex Education website Surprisethere is a whole section surprise juniorwhich offers resources for talking about sex with kindergarteners and first graders, including a collection of videos specifically designed to guide parents as they talk about sex with their children.
But also know that it’s never too late. Today, 16-year-old Jeselyn Marizan is Amaze’s Youth Ambassador and she is passionate about the importance of giving children access to honest and accurate information about sex. However, she herself did not grow up with such conversations. The daughter of a teenage mom, she was basically raised to have sex as something to be avoided. “I was always afraid to bring up this topic,” she admits.
But after Covid broke out, Jeselyn began volunteering with a number of health education organizations, and sex education became a part of her life. She began casually discussing topics like birth control with her mother and was thrilled to find that it was something they could talk about together. While she wishes they’d started these conversations much, much sooner, she’s grateful that the door is open now.
Carry on a conversation. “Some parents think that “talk” is a one-time event. But conversations about sex, sexuality, love and relationships should be ongoing,” says LeKara Simmons, Amaze program manager and brand strategy spokesperson. The more you normalize discussions about sex and bodies, the more you will trust your child, and the more likely they will turn to you and not a peer or potentially sketchy website when they have questions about sex in the future. .
But talking about sex regularly doesn’t mean you have to repeat the same things over and over again about where babies come from or how to use condoms. Sex is more than just mechanics. Learning about sexism, respect for other people’s bodily autonomy, and media literacy is just as important as making sure they know how a sperm and egg make a baby.
Find good resources online (and offline) and make sure your kids know about them. No matter how well you talk to your kids about sex, there will always be conversations they won’t want to have with you. So make sure they know they have other places to go. It could be another trusted adult—an aunt, an uncle, a family friend—or it could be one of the many fantastic sexual resources that exist on and off the internet.
Sites like Surprise, scarlettin, Sex, etc.And Planned Parenthood and books like Let’s talk about it!, Sex is a funny word, What to expect?, And SEX: The Scarlett Book! these are all great resources for kids who are interested in sex. Make sure your kids know about them.