As the parents of a Toddlers (0-36 months), there are so many challenges that thinking about sex education is the furthermost topic from most parents’ mind. Because, we need to raise healthy and sexually secure children, it is important to have open and frank age appropriate sex talk with children even at this young age. Remember, it is never too early to educate your child about sex.
Typically children will ask where they came from, and many parents will give stock answers like “we purchased you from the market”, “we found you in the hospital”, “the stork dropped you to our home”. These answers are neither true nor constructive. They should be told that that babies are born from the mother’s tummy. And if they want to know how the baby is put inside the tummy; as parents are ashamed to talk about sex, consequently most parents will avoid these types of difficult questions.
It is vital to share age appropriate answers with your toddlers when they ask you questions about sex. It is never too early to start teaching your children about sex, and so important not to embed fallacies in their mind.
Below are the most frequent sex related questions that you will hear from your toddler, and the age appropriate answer.
How do babies get inside a mothers tummy?
An age appropriate answer to your toddler would be that mummy and papa make a baby by holding each other in a special way.
How are babies born?
For most children it is enough that doctors and nurses help the mother in taking the baby out, for more curious children it can be explained that the mother pushes the baby out of the vagina (note use the correct word, so that in the future the toddler can recognize the word)
Why doesn’t everyone have a penis?
Explain to them that bodies of boys and girls, men and women are different.
Why do you have hair down there? Why is daddy’s penis bigger than mine?
Explain to them as we grow older our body changes.
Even if you find the questions awkward, move forward by answering them. Be sure to use the correct terminology as you are laying the foundation for a secure and sexual healthy human being.
Therefore, in conclusion, in your talks with your child, you have to instill the confidence within them that they can approach you if anyone ever touches them inappropriately, and how to distinguish between what is an appropriate and inappropriate touch.
