What is the right time to start sex education?

There is no right or wrong time to start sex education. It can be started any time after the mind is receptive to conceptual inputs. Even, as the child develops education appropriate to his age may be imparted. Without conscious volition parents are providing sex education to the child from the moment he/she is born. The way the parents hold and touch the child during infancy and the way they both interact with the child and with each other lays the foundation for his future sexual learning. Making the child feels loved and lovable has a profound influence in shaping future attitudes towards sex and sexuality. The way in which the parents relate to each other, their interactions and the day to day life in the family will influence the individual’s sense of self-esteem, body image, gender role, family roles as well as the capacity for love, intimacy and sharing.

How should one go about giving sex education?

All children are normally curious about everything including sex. If a youngster does not ask sex-related questions, it is because he/she is given to feel that his/her parents would be uncomfortable in the face of these questions and either would not answer or would not tell the truth. If the parents are comfortable about sex, it should be relatively easy to find an appropriate opportunity to let the youngster know [hat this is not a forbidden area. For instance, if someone is pregnant; if a female dog has pups; if there is evidence of night emission (wet dreams) the parents could assure the child that its curiosity about these is quite normal. Sometimes a newspaper with an illustrated article on how babies are made or a birth control advertisement could become a potential source for discussion. Parents should strive to achieve a good rapport with their children and promote a healthy and comfortable parent-child relationship, thus becoming “Approachable Parents.”