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Sex is something natural and the subject should be introduced to children. Here are some sexual education resources for parents you might want to check out to give more appropriate sex education for children in the elementary levels and up.
Time is running. Last week I was so surprised when I found some acne on my eldest son's forehead. He is nearly eleven this week. It seems that he is starting his puberty. I felt a bit nervous, worried and excited having a teenager right now. At the same time, our science topic is very supporting this occasion.
We have finished the animal and plant reproductive system. We started to discuss human reproductive system in our science last week. This topic is very exciting for kids. On the other hand, I don't feel so confident to start it. I have prepared this topic last year actually, but the confidence to start it hadn't come yet. As the time made me realize of having a teenager soon (or maybe already), I am forced to do it. It is better the kids know from me rather than from the media or people outside. I want to know what they have in their mind and what they want to ask. Asking to others will give too much risk for misinformation.
Sexual education is more than human reproductive system topic that is quite urgent to give at the moment. Therefore, just learning about the human reproductive system won't give enough information to them.
Sexual Education Resources for Parents
It is quite hard to find free real resources which is appropriate for the introduction. I found some guidelines in this link:
Sex education – primary school children – Better Health Channel
Primary school children need age-appropriate information about bodies, how babies are made, puberty, and sex. Your talks should also start to include topics such as sexual responsibility and relationships. Puberty brings about dramatic physical and emotional changes that may be frightening to an unprepared child.
Sex Education: What Children Should Learn and When
This source might be too advanced for people in my country but it is great.
I was confused how and what to start it in real. I found this link is great for real resources: Growing and Developing Healthy Relationship. There are some links in the list of activities that are printable. I am very happy with this link. We just need to adjust with the need of kids.
Books for Human Reproductive System
Last year I found these resources in amazon.com. They are awesome and include most what kids need to coupe:
It's Not the Stork!: A Book About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends (The Family Library) I really like this book as this introduce the sexual education for kids 4-7 years old. I read some pages of the book one night before kids slept. Even Jim, the youngest one, really likes it. There isn't any taboo things here. The best thing in this book is about the difference between boys and girls. | |
It's So Amazing!: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families (The Family Library) | It's So Amazing!: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families (The Family Library) It has a more detail explanation and more suitable for kids between 7-10. The explanation are drawn like comic so that it gets my kids easier to understand. I like the explanation of how the ovum meet the sperm and how the menstruation happens. |
| Ultimate Visual Dictionary I used the indonesian version of this book to show the reproduction chart. I have used this reference for some other topics and purposes. | |
Human Anatomy Coloring Book (Dover Children's Science Books) | Human Anatomy Coloring Book (Dover Children's Science Books) Well this book is lovely. It has a quite detail parts of the body to colour, including the male and female reproductive system. It is really helpful to know the position of the parts and the logic function so kids won't memorise too much. |
| American Medical Association Boy's Guide to Becoming a Teen We use this book for individual sharing and also further discussion of puberty. This book doesn't contain only scientific part of puberty or sexual education, but also some morale aspects of them. I bought one for Ken's 11 years old birthday on Wednesday. |
Steps to Teach Sexual Education for Kids
Here are some points that are in my planning sheet:
- We start the lesson with KWL chart.
Kids fill in the chart of what the Know, Want to know, and later what I Learnt - Discussion was started from The Difference Between Baby Boys/Boys/Males and Baby Girls/Girls/Females
We come to the conclusion that all parts of human body are the same, except for their sexes that identify whether the person is a female or a male - I show them the Growing Up Change Stages
This discussion includes the topic of puberty and getting old briefly.
- Focus on Male Reproductive System
Kids colour parts of the male reproductive system taken from Human Anatomy Coloring Book (Dover Children's Science Books). We also have some review to logically related function based on the picture. - Focus on Female Reproductive System
In this part, kids also colour the parts of the female reproductive system, but we start first from the menstruation process to introduce the parts. - I read aloud the Story of How the Female Cell Met the Male Cell to Form a New Baby
Scientifically I read the story to apply the concept of generative reproduction. - A Morale Discussion of Healthy Relationship and Sexual Health
This section is the most important part, I think as human being is different from other creature as we have sense of logic and dignity than other creature. We have culture that plays very important part in our life. Cause and reason consideration to take a responsibility is needed before people take an action. - Further Action Planning toward Puberty discussion
Kids are in the middle or ongoing process of puberty. I would call it as prepuberty. They need to take action with some case and issue of puberty so that they won't get “shocked” when they find a change in their physics.
What I can see from kids after each session so far, they look more and more mature and can respect others much better. They show more understanding toward females. We have not finished them completely yet, actually.
I hope this post can help shy and not confident people like me who was confused to start this sensitive topic. I know some of the readers should have got great experience in sexual education for kids. Please share to get everyone more insight.
The Talk and Changes
If you are Christians, we are really happy to inform you about  wonderful books in a bundle about biblical approach to sex education, written by Luke Gilkerson. Click the picture bellow for more information about the books:
Adelien Tan is a mother of three awesome boys and a wife of a great husband. They are a home education family who live in Surabaya, Indonesia, where home education is still very rare. English is her foreign language, but She tries to use it in blogging.
hmmm… I think I will need to start thinking on talking to my daughter bout this! I have been anxious about this topic, she is still just 5..
My six year boy was very excited to know that male and female are different. By the way, the time will run as I said. Kids will grow very quick that we just shock it is the time to deal with this matter. Have a great day…
Thanks for posting this intriguing piece on human anatomy. I am bookmarking this page for later use. Tnx.
http://www.astoundsurround.com/torso/human-metacarpal-1-bone
Good morning. Good post. I told my daughter and son-in-law a while back that I didn’t envy them the task of this part of the education. You have done a great job of covering lots of resources for parents here. I am going to forward it on to my daughter.
Thanks for sharing.
I try to do it very carefully as we live in Asia where this topic will be very sensitive one. Thank you for stopping by.
This subject can be awkward for both teacher/student parent/child. I think the key is to stay calm and focused on your goal.and present it to them openly. Let them ask questions. They will have some, and just guide them through it while following their lead on how fast to move through certain subjects. I agree, this is definitely something a parent needs to handle with their child. I wanted my children to have the scientific/medical knowledge, but also my thoughts and the moral values of our family. Tough topic, good luck! 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
We are doing it very carefully as this is a very sensitive topic. I would not let them either giggle or mock about any of the discussion and topic. Thank you for stopping by.
I think you’ve done a great job with teaching your children about reproduction. I wonder if this is often overlooked in homeschools or if it’s even included in some of the popular curricula? My boys have known about reproduction since they were old enough to ask, and we answered them truthfully but in ways they could understand. I do believe we could spend more time on anatomy so they have that knowledge.
My boys are typically Asian. They won’t ask for being shy. Most boys here will find out from outside resources. The hyperlink site give more insight and well arranged lesson planning for different ranges of ages. Thanks for stopping by.
When my boys were in school, here in Canada, sex education was taught in school. It was part of the curriculum and started very young. (in the Catholic system)
There was usually a retreat overnight with this topic when I was in school, but I wonder if they have it right now. Thanks for stopping by.
I am not looing forward to this part of homeschooling.I am sure by the tie this comes for us I wont flitch though. Got 4-5 years lol.
The proper time will come by itself that we were not aware it happens very fast
I’m not at this stage yet. But you did a great job of being very resourceful. Thanks for your hard work on this subject!
You will have one for certain. Thanks for stopping by.
Thank you for sharing these links. While this is not a subject I am ready to teach my girls just yet, it gets me thinking for the day when I am ready.
Definitely. I had been thinking for a long time how to do it. LOL
Thanks for stopping by…
I was very thrilled thinking about when the time would come. It was excited, worried, anxious, etc…
I had my first talk with my 10 year old girl this summer–we went out for a mommy/daughter date so it was special. I enjoyed the American Girl Doll book for young girls–it doesn’t go into sexual reproduction yet, but it discusses the changes in their body/puberty, etc.
Girls will start it first, right? Thanks for stopping by.
I have a 12 and 8 year old and I’ve been dreading bringing up the conversation about the birds and the bees and have decided to let their dad take over. Those are some great resources for help. Thank you for sharing. I might actually pick up that one for a boy becoming a teen. My son might enjoy reading it. 🙂
The Birds and The Bees are awesome too. Thanks for stopping by…
My eldest is 7, but we haven’t had any of these talks yet. I don’t think he has even had questions about anything yet. I guess I’ll have to start thinking about talking with him…
Boys usually grow up late. Their thought is focused on toys and games. 10 years old starts thinking usually. Thanks for stopping by.
Vital information, and great post! Looks like you’re all set to me!
Thanks for stopping by, Kristen…
This is a great list of resources to talk about the human reproductive system & sex education. Thank you so much 🙂
You are very welcome…