Honestly, Ive just saw a question that has annoyed me..?

Question

Someone wants to know the right way of telling her 7 years old about the birds and bees. Ive a 7 year old and think its way to oung. What do you think?

Just to add my 7 year old has never asked and has no idea about the birds and the bees. I think it would really disturb him at this age..

Answer 1

It doesn't matter how old (or young), if a child asks a question about sex, it should be anwered. The answer should be appropriate for the age and maturity of the child.

Also, question the question. Be sure what the child is asking is what you think the child is asking. The classic joke, "Mom, where did I come from?"

Mom spends 2 hours with charts, diagrams, and pictures explaining everything to be known about sex to her 7 year old. The child replies, "Thanks. My friend Elliot said he came from Miami."

Answer 2

Every child is different. That's big part of the right time.

The best way is to give info a little bit at a time starting from they are very young. The key here is only answer what they ask, in a very specific and truthful way.

Here's what I mean - When my girls were toddlers they wanted to know how the baby got out of the tummy. I said that They came out thru a special canal (The birthing canal) and that usually a doctor/nurses help. They were totally happy with this without ever asking where the birthing canal was or anything else.

When they were a bit older (about five) each of the girls wanted to know how the baby got in my tummy. I told them that a mommy has lots and lots of teeny tiny egs in her her body. Every month a little egg is sent to a special place (The womb - a special place in a mommy tummy just for babies to grow in). If the egg is fertilized by a sperm, then it will slowly turn into a baby. Then we looked a pictures of a baby fetus developing (ooh gross!! I looked like that!?). they never asked how the sperm got there, so I never mentioned it -- They were five-ish.

When my oldest daught was a bout 11(She's got aspergers so she is slower than her sisters to ask some of these things) and my other daughter was nine they both wanted to know how a sperm got into the womb to fertilize the egg.
All I said was it takes both a daddy and a mommy . The man makes the sperm, and the mommy makes the eggs. the mommy and daddy get married (I personally just put that in because I want them to be married first) They have special time together where the man and woman are very close and the man puts the sperm into the woman using their privates. they were like "oh, okay." and then I went on to draw a picture of a woman and showed where the ovaries are, the womb and the tubes are the hook up the ovaries to the womb area. Again they were like "o.k." and bopped off to do something else.

I think this approach is best becaus eyour kids learn early on that you will try to be honest with them when they ask you something rather than upset or mad. It makes the kids more comfortable talking to you about things.

I also think its best to base how much they need to know on what it is they are asking. That way they can aborb the info a little at a time and piece it together like a puzzle slowly emerging -- rather than just sitting down and learning it all in one big shock.

I also have tried to have age appropriate books available on health and the human body. American Girls has a good one for girls about puberty. It's written for the 8-13 year old set.

My seven year oldknows where her ovaries are and where the womb is, but I don't think she has connected any of that to her privates. She's not ready and I'm willing to wait. She knows the baby grows inside a mommy's tummy and that it starts with an egg. She knows you have to have a mommy and a daddy to have a baby. And for now, at seven that is appropriate. She really doesn't need to know any of the particulairs after that.

It's all a matter of degree of info and what the individual child is ready for.

Answer 3

In other countries children are educated about sex from six years old. I think it is better to teach a child from a young age and then as they grow they can make well informed decisions. Remember your child was conceived during sex it's not dirty and grubby. It's the way in which we were all brought into the world. I think it's good that this mother has the intelligence to realise that educating her child on the subject will no doubt enable her daughter to come to her with problems in later life. My daughter is two and I have every intention in teaching her the facts of life early. This does not mean that I'm going to sit her down with the Karma Sutra. Kids like to know how they were made, where they come from etc. As they get older then comes the time to explain contraception and the more detailed areas surrounding sex. I do not want my daughter to become a statistic. Surely if she knows the ins and outs of loving relationships and the consequences of having sex unprotected and underage she will not end up a teenage mother.

Answer 4

I have a 5 and 7 year old. They don't know the exact specifics, but if they asked for them I would tell them. I would rather they get the information from me than somewhere else. Kids learn earlier and earlier now. I remember in 4th grade not knowing what a period was, but my step son knew in second grade (8 yrs old) what a bl0w j0b was from older kids on the bus. My theory is they are never to young as long as you give them the information to them age appropriately and honestly. Sex isn't something to be ashamed of and if they are curious they will get the answers they are looking for from you and if you won't answer them they will get it from someone else. You can't quash curiosity.
To the parent's that think their kids aren't asking therefore don't know anything need to wake up. They know enough about it to not ask you. They are getting their information some where else. My mom waited until I was 12. I already knew everything and more by then. Talk to your kids, because if you're not, I guarantee someone else is.

Answer 5

I think when a child is asking and his/her friends are also asking then, maybe you have to be honest about things. It is also a good time to install warnings about casual sex, in a way that sex is about reproduction and loving etc. Not to be taken lightly as kid's take things more on board at a younger age.

The second reason for this is because they will find out anyway. You want it to come from a sensible source so they understand sensibly. At sometime the harsh reality of this world has to catch up with you! You can even explain that it doesn't happen for several years, when you are a mummy/daddy etc.

Telling they are found under cabbages won't do any favours when they do find out from their friends. I remember as I grew up I always wanted to know the truth, not rubbish. I had a few years of santa and other delights, but as you realise that... then you want to know about other things honestly and it is more important to you.

Educating with animals is a good idea.

Answer 6

As the oldest of four children I certainly new all about the "birds & bees" by the time I was seven, it's hard to make up a story that will satisfy a kid as to why Mom keeps getting fat, then skinny, and little people keep appearing! But to answer you question specifically, it's YOUR problem if that question annoyed you! There is no "hard & fast rule" (thank goodness) for when it is appropriate to explain certain things to children.

BTW, one major upside to explaining everything about sex to a very young child is that when "Uncle Charlie" wants to play a "special game" the kid will already know Uncle is full of it, and will be far more likely to tell another adult!

Answer 7

considering the schools in the UK are now teaching primary 6 sex education which i must say is a good thing kids learn so much from friends and hear say that they end up doing something stupid and either falling pregnant or regretting it for the rest of there lives however at seven i think personally they are far too young to be taught the ins and outs of sex but as long as the parent doesn't come out with some story like baby's are found under the cabbage patch in the back garden and they use language that she understand and doesn't scare her i think its OK it comes down to how mature you think your seven year old is .....

Answer 8

If they have a curiosity and start to ask questions then it is better to tell them some things honestly without going into great detail. If you don't warn them about sex and what bad strangers or anyone else might try to do to them how do they know to be afraid or to be careful. Children need to know many things but parents should educate them self on how to go about telling the children and not just ask someone else how to explain something this important. They need to be told of many dangers. That is part of being a parent.

Answer 9

I think it is always better to be honest with your children. Unfortunately in the day and age we are living in, kids are less innocent than they were.

You also have to take biological factors into account if you have a daughter. My periods started when I was 9 years old which meant my mother had to explain about this much earlier than she would have wanted to.

I think it is better if your children are asking questions to get the correct answer from you rather than the wrong answer from the school yard.

Answer 10

it might be too young in your eyes but if the 7 year old is asking the questions, they should get an answer. I firmly believe that they should get the truth. it doesn't have to be expicit or crude, but there is no harm in educating the child in an adult manner. after all, if we hide the truth, or tell childish lies (ie: a stork brings babies) you are not doing your child any favours whatsoever. I say tell the truth, whatever age. If my 4 year old asks, i'll explain the truth so that he can understand.