Telling your kids the facts of life.

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Member for

18 years 7 months

Posts: 1,376

Got a feeling my 7 year old son will soon start asking those awkward questions, and hoping someone might be kind enough to share their experience or advice. In particular, how to avoid making it all seem somehow shameful or embarrassing but still "private" (for want of a better term) Still cringe when I recall what I innocently said to my Mum after my Dad told me. :eek: Thanks in advance for any advice.

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Member for

11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

7?!! Blimey times have changed - childhood innocence will be non-existent in another generation.

Member for

18 years 7 months

Posts: 1,376

Yeah, I know what you mean, Charlie. Think I was about 13, lol. Seven or eight seems to be considered the "right" age nowadays, though.

Member for

11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

My grandson is 11 and is getting "vaguely curious" but football, cars, aircraft and soldiery are really what matter at the moment.

Member for

14 years

Posts: 4,996

I agree that 7yrs old is a bit young. I'd have a word with his school first.

Member for

11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

Without in anyway impugning the actions of the OP surely that is part of the problem. Insidiously schools have subverted the role of the parents in so much of a child's upbringing. Or perhaps in many cases parents have been more than happy to devolve their responsibilities to schools.

I am sure none of the parties benefit from it.

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12 years 11 months

Posts: 6,535

Re 6

Took my reply 'out of my mouth' !

Creosote. You're Dad. Your responsibility.

Member for

18 years 7 months

Posts: 1,376

I agree 7 seems a bit young, but I sometimes sense he's getting ready to ask. Certainly won't be rushing him into it, but want to be ready just in case. So, any tips?

Member for

14 years 11 months

Posts: 894

Don't anticipate, but wait for the question, then answer it simply and truthfully, and don't elaborate. Children can take a lot, but not lies, or being evasive; you might well find that he's getting (duff) information from the class know-all, and your response could just get "Oh, can I go out and play football, now?" I remember talking to my godson, when he was 11, and his unhappy response "My dad won't talk to me about it."

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16 years 4 months

Posts: 594

Look on amazon, there are a number of "me and my body" type books that will when the time comes help to make the discussion easier.

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14 years 6 months

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Sex education for me started at school and involved a broom handle, a condom stretched to enormous proportions and a very graphic (not to mention colourful) film of child birth.
My parents didn't mention such things.

Member for

11 years 5 months

Posts: 11,141

Sex education for me started at school and involved a broom handle, a condom stretched to enormous proportions and a very graphic (not to mention colourful) film of child birth.
My parents didn't mention such things.

Your school was clearly determined to give most of the pupils an inferiority complex!!:D

Member for

18 years 7 months

Posts: 1,376

Just to say thanks for the replies, folks. Some good advice which is much appreciated.