What to tell them about sex?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-26-2007
What to tell them about sex?
3
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 2:58pm
I have a 10 year old who I am trying to educate about sex, without freaking her out and without telling her more than she should know at this age. Where do I begin and are there any recommended books or sites to show her so that she can feel less mortified about sitting in a room with her MOM and talking about such things?
Please help!
OFFALYGOODMOM
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2004
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 3:08pm
i bought Jackie these two books and after going through them almost page by page. She seemed to grasp the concept. The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls (American Girl Library) Ready, Set, Grow!: A What's Happening to My Body? Book for Younger Girls
She was impressed by these two books that she shared them with her best friend. (lol)
I am not nervous about speaking to her about this type of stuff, but the books help put it in terms that are appropriate for her age in my opinion. Amazon sells them if that helps.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 4:38pm

The care and Keeping of you is an excellent book dealing with puberty. Talks about everything from periods and tampons to zits and being a good friends. Its at this age now she should likely have it. However it does not talk about sex, as in sexual relations with the other party.


I've just talked to my DD about it informally. But I would suggest if you want to use a book that you go to your local library alone and talk to the reference librarian in the children's section. They have TONS of books about sex so you could look through them and find one that you think fits your family. Some use cartoons and are very humorous, others are very straightforward and more scientific. Just depends what you are comfortable with and your child's style. I think just keep it general but factual. This is what happens, that's how babies are made, its something only adults do (you can bring up teen sex much later) or that married people do (depending on your families beliefs), adults and children NEVER do that together and when people do have sex they must must must use a condom. Leave it at that. Hopefully if she has any questions she'll ask. I don't think you need to get into the details of how if you are in a monogamous relationship you don't need to use condoms and that some people like to do it in such and such position. That will come later. Just the facts ma'm. :-)


Good luck. Its a bit weird to talk about sex with our kids but its important and she's at the right age to start being curious and also to be aware of playground talk. If they don't learn it from you they certainly will from the kid next door and who knows what their information will be like.

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Avatar for bradleyteach
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Registered: 06-29-2001
Thu, 04-26-2007 - 5:05pm

Hey Offalygoodmom, good luck with this.

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