In my state sexual education beings at grade 7. In many European countries it begins somewhere around grade 2. Fact: The age of consent is lower in Europe then in the States (ie. Spain: 13, Hungary, Portugal, Slovenia, etc 14), yet, there are fewer cases of teen pregnancy and STDs then in the States Question: Would it not be a good idea to start sexual education at an earlier age, say around 10-11 years, meaning grade 4-5??? I also must point out that abstinence only teaching does not work!
Parenting - 12 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
No, no and no again! In the UK we learn it at 12, and that is fine with me, you really want 5 year olds learning about sex like they do in the Netherlands, I sure don't.
2 :
In my district they do it at 10 and thats fine with me
3 :
I learned in grade 5 (age 11) and I think that worked well. I think that as long as kids are learning about stranger danger at a really young age, then we ought to be teaching about other dangers when they are young enough to be influenced into making better decisions. Besides, girls often start to experience their periods at age 10-11 so they should understand really what that's all about.
4 :
Where I live, the children start to hear about sex ed as they are finishing up 5th grade and preparing for middle school. Each year from 5th to 10th grade, they are given refresher courses. Family is your best indicator. We teach abstinence in our home. Never had a problem with the children. They pretty much knew what was right.
5 :
I do believe 10-11 is appropriate for sex ed. My son (11 - Year 5) hasn't done sex ed at school yet, but I have talked to him, and we are making it a daily education. Why so young? Because he has started asking a LOT of questions. He has friends whose bodies are changing, his body is starting to change. I am also pretty sure that a number of girls he is at school with have already started their periods, and they are definitely growing breasts, and it is important for the boys to understand that too. So I bought a book and we went through it together. Now, whenever he has a question, he just asks. He feels very comfortable, so it is a good age. BTW, I don't think you should rely on the education system to do what you as a parent should be involved in. I am quite happy to have talked to my son about it. Hubby an I agreed, it opens the door. If he does sex ed only at school, without some parental education, do you think he'd ask those questions in class??? I doubt it. So if you feel your children are ready, talk to them. Keep it fairly basic, and let the questions come. It is a fantastic opening for you as a parent to be open about something that is totally natural, and if you don't seem embarrassed by it, then they will be comfortable.
6 :
It should start at home.When my children were toddelers they would say whats that mummy and id just say eg vagina using the correct words.They would just carry on as normal.then as they got older they would ask diffferent questions and you just say it in simple terms.It then would be backed up by school in a more detailed way.Also i said to my children if they had an embarassing question to write it down and put it under my pillow.(this is when they are older} and id put the answer under their pillow . It really worked well
7 :
It shouldn't be left up to the schools! I have an 8 year old son, and when he asked the questions, I answered them. He got around to asking exactly how a daddy puts the baby in mummy's tummy last year, and I borrowed a book from the library and told him. He said 'Yuck!' and then cackled madly. No embarassment, no hang ups and he has the information. STD info will probably come from the school, as I can't imagine him asking the question (although he might, and I'll answer him). Far too many people rely on the state tpo educate their children, that's why there are such high teen pregnancy rates. I have no problem with my 5 year old learning about his body and how it works. They're not going to show little kids the full gory details.
8 :
In the UK they start sex education from year five (10) in a formal way. And we have the highest number of teen pregnancies and std's than any other European countries. Many European countries come from a strict religious background and the morals are carried over into their family lives. In the UK religion has gone out of the window. The two need to be combined, morals and sex education. Our society is very sex orientated, with it appears, most not bothering to practise self restraint. And until that is addressed, no matter how much sex education you teach, there will be girls and boys out there putting their sex education to good use. Edit: I wasn't taught formal sex education, ever. And there were only one or two girls who fell pregnant the entire time I was at school. We were taught "nice girls don't!"
9 :
here they learn age 10-11 some 12 (uk) I dont want my children to learn anything before then, its so much fun answering questions with weird ideas than it is to tell them the truth at this age! for example whilst heavy pregnant with my second my daughter (5) asked me how the baby would get out of my tummy, I felt I should tell her the truth with cartoon diagrams BUT her reply "dont be silly mummy you would squash it" a lesson learnt, I dont think children are ready to hear the truth any younger than what it is told at present in uk 10+.
10 :
In my state (or at least in my daughter's school) you get sex education in 5th grade health, which educates about pregnancy and AIDS mainly. however, she went to a magnet middle school and took her magnet course instead of art, health, and tech. And in high school, you don't take health until 12th grade, since it is a half credit course and you take another one to balance it out then. That is ridiculous. By then the girl that needed the class the most has already gotten pregnant and probably has already had her baby. this country needs to stop thinking that educating our kids will not work. Kids learn math from a very young age, but most of them still moan that they don't like it and will never use it in life. I know sex isn't quite like that, but there is some grain of truth to it. They will only make an informed choice if they know what one is.
11 :
In Europe, the age of consent is usually 14. There are no laws about age gap when teens have sex if they are 14 or older, so a 15yo girl can sleep with a 21yo boy and they can have a great relationship without hiding. Personally I know many cases of younger teens who have older boyfriends and some of them got married a year ago (the girl was 18-19 and the boy was around 25). Teen pregnancy is so low that I personally haven't heard of one case, although most of my friends are in Europe (and most are teens or around my age - 22) and I can say there a teen pregnancy is such a mirakle. Teens there know about condoms, pills and use them without being asked to, because they have brains in their heads and do it because they WANT TO, not because someone made them. I would really love to raise my kids in Europe, but since we now live here (I'm American and half European), we will visit there as much as possible.
12 :
i learned it while i was in the 4th grade .....it was weird at first ..
