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Sex Education in the Homeschool Home

Homework One of the reasons we chose to home school was so we could teach our children about the world around them while at the same time making sure they had the foundation they needed to go along with that teaching. No topic is a better example of this than sex education. We wanted to teach our children to have respect for their bodies and the bodies of others. We wanted to introduce the topic with our strong Christian background. We wanted to do it in private, with just one child at a time, and two parents, so they could ask any questions they wanted, and we could be united in the effort.

Learning about sex is a huge step in a child’s development. I think I can safely say that we all want our children to be taught about it in a respectful, loving, responsible way.

By teaching your children the facts of life at home, you have the opportunity to reach out to them on their own levels of understanding. You have the ability to determine when they are ready for it, how much they are ready to learn, and how the information should be imparted. Some children aren’t ready for “the talk” until they’re a little bit older. Some need it explained in very simple language. Some children have been exposed to uncomfortable situations, and need extra care and guidance on the topic. As the parent, you can control the tone and atmosphere of your talk, and fine-tune it to meet the needs of your individual child. In a public school setting, this type of custom-made teaching isn’t available. The children are taught in a group setting, at a certain age, all in the same way, without a religious foundation.

If you feel uncomfortable talking to your child about this topic, I offer the following suggestions:

1. Wait until they show signs of wanting to know. There’s no rule that prescribes when the talk should take place – some children will be ready sooner, and others won’t be for a while. Take it on a child-by-child basis.

2. When you have the talk, only tell them what they are ready to hear at the time. If they receive too much information, they could become overwhelmed. However, if they’re ready for the whole kit ‘n caboodle, and they only receive a vague answer, they will feel dissatisfied and may seek information elsewhere.

3. Follow your instincts on the words you use. You know your child better than anyone, and you know how to reach them.

4. There’s no need to invest in fancy books, unless you want to. For some parents, books are helpful. But most of the time, just a simple, heartfelt conversation is best.

5. Encourage your child to ask questions. Tell them to let you know if there’s anything they don’t understand, and keep your attitude open and sharing.

6. Don’t share information with your child that’s too personal. In other words, don’t say things like, “Well, your father and I …” It’s a tough topic in the first place, and if they’re suddenly seeing their parents in a whole new light, a new and … uncomfortable light, it will be harder for them to ask questions. (The mental images might close those doors of communication!)

Talking with your child about “the birds and the bees” can be a positive experience. It’s intimidating, that’s for sure, but as you guide it toward a respectful, conversation, you’ll find that it is a lot easier than you first thought it would be.

Related Blogs:

Sex Education Curriculums Need a Makeover

Research Supports Abstinence Programs

Is It Time to Teach Your Child the Facts of Life?