sex education in schools

[paradise lost]

I'm also in the UK, i have a 2.5 year old DD.

I am strongly in favour of sex education from age 5/6. If you look at the government policies proposed they are not actually going to teach 5 year olds about the mechanics of sex and contraception, they are going to begin the process of talking to them about relationships, biology and hygiene in an age-appropriate and culturally sensitive way. Contraception is not covered until much later, as the child approaches puberty.

I understand the viewpoint that a parent might want to feel they are responsible for teaching this sort of thing, but the fact is that many parents don't. The majority of teen pregnancies in the UK occur because the teens DON'T KNOW the facts. Not because they chose to ignore them. "It was only once" "it was my first time" "we did it standing up" "he pulled out" are still the ahgast cries of many a young parent who can't believe they got caught out and made a baby. I used to work in Health Promotion for the NHS Greater Glasgow and you should HEAR some of the myths kids think are true! *I* will be beginning DD's sex education at 5 even if the school isn't!

Finland has the lowest rate of teen pregnancy in Europe (all of the scandinavian countries have drastically lower rates than the UK) and their sex education begins at 6, when they start school. They talk about relationships (homo/hetero/bi-sexual), and what is desireable (trust, respect, caring, love) and what isn't (violence, coersion, manipulation, force) in simple terms (i.e. they don't talk at 7 about rape, but they talk about how it feels if someone forces you to play a playground game when you don't want to and how you won't want to be friends anymore and how respect is a base for ALL relationships). They cover biology and health, and as the children age they cover reproduction contraception and STD's in growing detail.

The fact of the matter is that as soon as puberty hits humans (indeed ALL mammals) begin to have sexual urges and curiosities. When DD's sexual self awakes i'd rather her education in that area was complete, not 3 years off beginning! It's like trying to teach them the green cross code when they're already standing in the middle of the road at rush hour!

Bx

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Thanks for explaining that more thoroughly Hoobley

[Indadhanu]

I agree with you Hoobley... In fact that was pretty much what I was going to say.

We've already got a 'reproduction education' book for Jazz, aimed at very young kids. And one about relationships, all flavours, and good (loving) and bad (violent) relationships. It has to all be age appropriate obviously, but I think the educationshould start when kids ask.

When DD's sexual self awakes i'd rather her education in that area was complete, not 3 years off beginning! It's like trying to teach them the green cross code when they're already standing in the middle of the road at rush hour!

100% agree. thats a great way to put it!

[aussienic]

I personally tinkg 5-6 is a little young but it depends on what they are teaching at that age kwim?

For me I think it should start in year 5 in Pimary school.. We have started talking to our 9 yr about things.. and he has a couple books.. He and his friends talk about all sorts of things so it was time to set the record straight..