Do you think sex education for children helps? Does it have an impact on a children between 5-12yrs ld?

Question

I am doing a piece of work on sex education for university....just needed some help with this question. I have looked into teenage pregnancy etc which to me suggests that sex education doesn't help children as they choose whether to have sex anyway.
When I say 'impact' are children scared by it when they are introduced to it? Do they ask more questions etc?!?!

Answer 1

I'm an OB nurse & my kids know things like correct anatomy terms, that babies grow in their moms belly, that breasts make milk for the baby, that mommy "bleeds" and needs pads,etc. They have known this stuff since they were around 2 or 3 yrs. Now I haven't dicussed the entire conception/birth concepts with them but my now 5 yr old daughter has seen photos of a birth from a nursing/birthing textbook (she looked at this book on her own, I didn't give it to her on purpose or anything). She carefully looked through it but she didn't seem disturbed or even ask any questions. It's possible she really didn't understand (or care) what was going on.
I think the most important thing is to be honest with kids but to only give them the info they require. Use their questions as a guide. I think the worst thing a parent can do is make a big deal about it, use scare tactics, or worse- get all embarrassed and make the child feel dirty or naughty for asking curious questions. I think if the subject of sex isn't taboo, the kids won't be in such a hurry to find out what all the fuss over sex is about. Plus, they'll know the FACTS from an adult about pregnancy & disease instead of SILLY FALSE THEORIES they'll hear from their friends.
Sorry, I don't have statistics for you about how early sex ed helps reduce pregnancy or anything. I'm sure those studies are out there somewhere on the web though.

Answer 2

I think that sex ed shouldn't be taught in grade scool. Kids should stay kids. After 12, hormones start kicking in pretty strongly, and I think that it's appropriate to talk about it. Feelings should also be discussed, not just the technicalities of it. I also think that the focus shouldn't be "don't have sex", because as you say, kids will do it anyways if they want to, and forbiding it only makes it more appealing. The focus should be on birth control and disease prevention, and kids should have access to free condoms from the school counselor, question free. Most kids dont have the money to buy condoms, or rather spend their money on other things.
In Canada, where healthcare is free for everyone, kids as young as 14 can get on birth control for free without their parent's permission, and I'm pretty sure that Canada has a way lower rate of teen pregnancy.

Answer 3

Yes, it helps. There are studies in developmental psychology that indicate that sex education actually reduces incidents of teen pregnancy and STD. This is counter to the prevailing arguments against sex ed, but some people are simply blinded by their politics on the matter. When we have knowledge of something we are better able to make intelligent choices about that matter rather than learning from our friends and from the media.

Same goes for drug education, as well. Sex ed helps kids understand how their bodies work so that when those hormonal changes kick in they know more about what to expect.

Answer 4

I think it's more important to teach young people how to have heatlhy relationships full of respect than it is to teach them how to physically have sex. If my daughter's school sends home a not when she's 6 telling me that they will be starting sex ed classes, she will be getting home schooled. I think that parents need to be put in the position where they have to teach their kids about sex. I do NOT want someone else teaching my daughter how to help her b/f put on a condom when I will be teaching her about the value of purity and abstinence. She'll learn enough from the media and I will explain it to her all from the purity standpoint. She won't be sheltered, but she will know that it is not OK to have sex as a teenager because the emotional damage it casues can be far worse than the STD and pregnancy risks. She'll learn how to have a close but respectable realtionship with men. And she will learn how she should be treated by men in her life (with respect). I think that respect and self-control is more important to learn than how to put a rubber on a banana.

Answer 5

I have a little girl that is 10 years old and they had a sex ed. class at school. At first I was worried it would freak her out, but it didn't. She asked me and my husband alot of questions and we were able to talk to her about it the way we felt we should.(telling her what we felt she should know) I think it is a good thing. Information is power and the more children have the better I feel.

Answer 6

hi, my son is 9, and my husband just had the sex talk with him, at first i was worried that he was to young, but later that day we talked about it, and i am so glad it happened, his ideas of sex were so far off it was scary, he actually thought that sex was only in the behind, due to all the gay activity on TV. another thing i was not aware of was, one of his friends who is a girl, has an older sister who is in her teens, she was playing truth and dare with them and making them pretend to do it. he wasn't quite sure what it was. but without this talk, i would never have known, he has since been told exactly what is the wrong type of playing. he is also now aware of the diseases, and the truth about pregnancy. and also my husband stressed how to treat a girl with respect. children are doing it so much younger now, and alot they learn from TV. i think they should start sex education alot earlier now.

Answer 7

A 5- year old child can only absorb 1 piece of information at a time. More important, when the child asks questions (whatever the age) answer simply. He will either be satisfied, or will ask more. Never give more information than he or she can absorb.

Answer 8

i have a 16 yr old step daughter and from the first time she asked questions i told her the answer in a why she could understand at that time so in my oppenion if you are open with the chid it can help . but in all it is up to the chil to hear what you say. my s.d. told boys that if they could not except that she was going to wait for the i do's to be said they had no part with her . but i have neices that got pregnet befor the wedding and they was in church and told differnt.

Answer 9

5-10 don;t bother except to teach safety. 10-12, teach self-respect to counteract a tendency to act sexual in order to gain popularity.

Answer 10

yes, yes, yes. of course earlier education is better.
because you can get accurate info to the kids.
it helps them be more informed even if they still make a choice you disagree with.
education helps. yes.