Sex education is the learning of sexual development as a natural part of growing up which encompasses learning about physical development, including sexual and reproductive knowledge, gender identity, relationships, friendships, and social issues.
Sex education is intended to teach the young people about themselves to develop knowledge and skills that will help them to interact in positive, respectful, and supportive ways with others.
In spite of the good deeds sex education set out to accomplish, it has taken a bad rap. Take for instance In America, parents have the option to either opt-in or out of sex education for their kids – this most times is based on religious grounds. Several reports have shown that students who were exposed to sex education were more likely to abstain from sex till later than students who were not. In fact the report went on to state that 71% of Americans 19-year old have had intercourse. This is an alarming statistics and hence imperative that these children be taught sexual education to get them knowledgeable about the subject.
Here’re reasons why sex education may just be the most important class your kids will ever take:
Teenagers have sex
This is the fact. According to a nationwide survey carried out by Centre for Disease Control, (CDC), 63 percent of 12th graders report having had sexual intercourse. “You may think, of course my kid is not among those stats, but even so, the knowledge and skills they gain in a high-quality comprehensive sex education class will serve them as they enter young adulthood and for the rest of their lives” – Jenn Guitart
Young people need to learn about sex before having it
It’s very alarming the knowledge gap about reproductive health among young people. In a poll of unmarried 18 to 24 year old, it was discovered that majority of those that took the poll know nothing about many contraceptive methods, and myths such as douching after sex can prevent pregnancy are prevalent. It’s even more worrisome that these young people think they know enough to avoid pregnancy.
Young people will learn about sex whether they get sex education in school
The truth is these young folks will learn about sex regardless of whether they were taught about it in school or not. And most often, their source of education is through friends and the media which are unreliable. To collaborate this, a report by the Kaiser Family foundation discovered that more teens reported having learned about sex from their friends and the media than from sex education or their parents.
You would you have preferred, allowing your kids learn scientifically accurate information about sex from trained teachers or through rumors from friends, TV or the Internet?
When should your child be exposed to sex education?
An important question that bothers most parents is knowing the right time to introduce their kids to sex education. The reality is sex information is everywhere. Putting it off may be too late hence it is recommended that parents need to instill correct concepts of sex to their children as early as possible before they’re misled by indecent magazines and irresponsible media.
How to broach the topic of sex with your child
Discussing sex with your child could be awkward and you may feel at a loss on how to begin, these tips is aim to guide you with some pointers:
- Choose the right time to ask questions and provide answers
- Establish their confidence and holistic development:
- Use proper materials and keep up with time
- Understand your children and understand yourself
Summarily, leaving the education of your children to chance, to peers and the media may come back to haunt you. Through sex education your child is taught scientifically accurate information about sex and reproductive health. This will go a long way in instilling wholesome views about sex, their bodies and also help grow their self-worth.
Bibliography
Manson, M. (2013, October 2.) 7 things sex education should have taught us but didn’t. Retrieved August 14, 2017, from the Web
Emmerson, L. (2013, January 24.) Why sex education matters. Retrieved August 14, 2017, from the Web
Kaufman, M. (2011, September 13.) Sex Education for Children: Why Parents Should Talk to their Kids About Sex. Retrieved August 14, 2017, from the Web
