Reply With QuoteI think that's what MyTurn does in her spare time (when not surfing BB!)
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Thanks nothing2lose - From what I've also read online (and yes I know that not everything is to be believed online) it is fine to introduce these concepts at four but no need to go into every little detail at this age, more because of the fact that they have low attention spans. I've been reading articles written by child psychologists, so I am tending to trust what they are saying. Some are saying slightly different things on how much detail to go into, but they all agree that it is appropriate to introduce sex education at age 4, just no need to go into every detail. I might also talk to some child psychologists to make sure the information is correct though.
Just saw your response myturn - and from what I'm reading what you've said is what child psychologists are saying.
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I think that's what MyTurn does in her spare time (when not surfing BB!)
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phew.... glad to know I know what I'm talking aboutlol
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.... you just did...
feel free to PM me if you'd like.... there are a couple of others lurking on here as well...... maybe they will come out to play ...
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This might be helpful too...
http://www.public.health.wa.gov.au/c.../2/TSTO_V2.pdf
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Just to clarify. I wasn't saying don't answer questions. Answer them with age appropriateness in mind. There is no need to tell them everything because they ask one question and every piece of literature I've read suggest that you only answer the basics, give them the opportunity to ask more if they need to. Gauge what your child needs. But don't launch into a whole discussion on the ins and outs of everything. Because it can be scary and hard for them to process. 8-10 is the recommended age to discuss sexual education without prompting. Before that is questions and age appropriate answers. I never lied to my kids but I never sat down and explained everything when I could tell all they wanted to know was how a baby could grow inside you? Hope that makes sense.
Life Subscriber
I got the same question at 2. At that age I decided less was more. When I thought about it for a minute, I realised that his brother hadn't been long born and that maybe was thinking that babies are that big when they start in the tummy. So I just said that when babies start in the tummy they are tiny, so small you can't see them, and then they grow to be baby size and are born. That seemed to do the trick. Three weeks later he asked why only mummies have babies in their tummies, not daddies. I told him that daddies don't have a uterus for the baby to grow in and that kept him going for a long time.
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my 4 year old asked me this question the other day. I just asked "how do you think?" She said "i think mummy and daddy put them in there" so i just agreedi must admit my mind was racing trying to think of an age appropriate way to tell her so will keep all this in mind for when her answer no longer satisfies her.
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Of course, if I am blessed enough to have another one, the question, "how was I made" is going to be a little more complicated and the answer will have nothing to do with sex at all (unless you count daddy ejaculating into a beaker in order to have his sperm washed in readiness for a party with mummy's eggs in a petri dish
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Oh cool. hehe.. yeah I'm feeling more confident in what to say now so thank you..... you just did...
feel free to PM me if you'd like.... there are a couple of others lurking on here as well...... maybe they will come out to play ...
I went to the library today and they had a lot of "where do babies come from" books. I found one that I feel is age appropriate. It discusses the growth of plants, chickens, cats and humans. So it helps put things into context without being really overwheltming.
nothing2lose - On the topic of birth that is one that I will eventually have to come back to, because I had a c-section, so DD has seen pics of her coming out of my tummy - literally! And now thinks that's how babies come out of their mums.For now I am happy for her to think that way but will need to correct her at some stage.
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Thanks nothing2lose - that document is really helpful!!
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I had a caesarean too Moi. I just told my DD that sometimes babies come out of their mum's stomachs in a type of operation but most times they are pushed out through the vagina.
Eta - yeah, I thought it was a great booklet. I have saved it and will print it up. Compulsory reading for every parent I reckon
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Yep I told DD the same as N2L.
She knew about C/S and birth way before she knew "how" she got there
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Of course, if I am blessed enough to have another one, the question, "how was I made" is going to be a little more complicated and the answer will have nothing to do with sex at all (unless you count daddy ejaculating into a beaker in order to have his sperm washed in readiness for a party with mummy's eggs in a petri dish
Maybe we could write a kids book and get the fertility clinics charge and extra over the top (nit compulsory!!) fee for every successful pregnancy at their clinic... We could make a fortune....!
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She hasn't actually asked me about the caesarean or how babies get out, so that is the only reason I haven't told her.I had a caesarean too Moi. I just told my DD that sometimes babies come out of their mum's stomachs in a type of operation but most times they are pushed out through the vagina.
Eta - yeah, I thought it was a great booklet. I have saved it and will print it up. Compulsory reading for every parent I reckon
And yes a fantastic booklet for parents!
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
My son asked this a while ago.
I said that mummies and daddies make babies together, with a seed from dad and an egg from mum.
That satisfied him.
Except a little later he came back to ask why he'd never SEEN us making a baby.....
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Did you tell him daddy's seed only comes out at night when all kids are asleep. Like Santa it doesn't come if anyone is awake?
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