Parents are key to sex education
Open discussion of human sexuality and sexually related topics can be viewed and heard on television and in the community. New problems in our society – AIDA and other sexually transmitted disease – are a major concern and the rising voices call for an end to ignorance.
As a counselor I am frequently asked by parents: “What is appropriate and healthy in the way of sex education in the home?” They are becoming more aware that leaving the whole job of sex education to the schools, churches and the child’s peers is not the better way.
I feel very strongly that parents’ interaction with their children on this topic strongly affects the way the child approaches this whole area of human experience when they become adults. And I believe much of the material on television and in the movies gives incorrect information and unhealthy perspectives. Scenes that depict manipulative, exploitative and sexual perversions give children wrong impressions.
Parents can help children learn about sexuality in a healthy manner if they will:
• Start by discussing and exploring issues on sex with children at an early age.
Young children will frequently ask: “Where did I come from?” And information should be given in terms they can understand. Explaining the elements of reproduction in terms for a child is not nearly as difficult as it may seem. Children are accepting and curious, free from guilt and previous experiences that cause negative feelings. Avoiding discussions may lead a child to develop attitudes that these subjects are dirty or sinful and not considered a proper part of the human life cycle.
• Don’t create fantasies or fairy tales to explain human reproduction. A healthy attitude may still contain elements of mystery and miracle, but scientific facts should be included.
• For open discussions on the causes and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, seek authorities and experts who are willing to make presentations to community groups. The PTA, school or church forums, the local media and other discussion groups will help select material for public libraries, school libraries and the media.
• Making yourself genuinely open to your children and letting them know that you are always available to talk about your feelings regarding their sexual development and any problems or questions they encounter will encourage them to seek you out rather than rely on their contemporaries for information. Remaining secretive and clandestine on sexual matters only encourages children to go “underground” for information that often is totally erroneous. That information leads to false beliefs, attitudes and values about sexual information.
• It is not uncommon for families to use nicknames for certain parts of the human anatomy. But children should be taught the proper anatomical names for sexual parts of the body. When parents use the correct word in a matter-of-fact way, it encourages children to feel that sexuality is a part of the human life cycle. It makes them realize that it is not a topic to be shunned or tucked away in some dark, mysterious place only to emerge at some later point in life.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1987
