FINAL TSTO Lesa Dec 14.pdf - Flipbook - Page 12
2. WHEN DO WE START TALKING?
Soon Now.
No matter how young your child, they are already learning some
important messages that will lay the foundations for their sexual
development.
Home schooling — the first lesson
Home is the first place for a child to learn about loving themselves, their body and loving
others. Even simple domestic routines such as bathing, rules about nudity and privacy, or
responding to an infant’s curiosity about going to the toilet are situations where messages
are sent and education about the body begins. As children get older, reactions to developing
bodies, questions about sex, or the arrival of boyfriends or girlfriends will continue the ‘home
schooling’.
Ideally children learn early that they can talk to their parents and trusted carers and ask
questions.
School life — the second lesson
A surprisingly large part of a child’s school life communicates what we want them to know
about sexuality. Beyond stories heard in the playground, the way schools manage everyday
events has a lot to teach kids too. When girls get their periods do they know what to do and
who to talk to? If young children are found playing doctor is there panic, or are children taught
that curiosity about bodies is OK but playing doctors at school isn’t?
6
There are plenty of parents who
haven’t talked with their kids about
sex and values, or going on the pill, or
anything like that. So, we really need
to be able to say to our kids, well, we
haven’t talked about this so far, but
we think it is really important, and
here’s what we want you to know ...
- Parent of 15 year old girl
