Sex Education – What Teens Should Know

Sex education is not just an option but also a necessity for teens nowadays. Children past the puberty stage need to be informed not only about body parts and the reproductive system. They are supposed to learn something deeper about relationships and safe sex, as these will teach them how to act responsibly when the time comes.

STD’s and Unwanted Pregnancy

Irresponsible teens are more prone to acquiring sexually transmitted diseases if they choose not to listen to their parents or follow the principles of safe sex. If sexual relations cannot be postponed until the right time comes, protected sex has to be practiced in the least. Instances of Chlamydia, especially in young women, are very high these days.

If safe sex is not practiced, the outcome is always either a disease or a pregnancy. Whichever it is, the long-term effect is always not pleasant. Kid having kids of their own is currently reaching alarming figures. And because of this, school, parents, and the rest of the community had joined hands in helping kids understand the ill effects of unwanted pregnancy and careless decisions.

Peer Pressure

Statistics show that most teens give in to sex if they experience too much pressure from peers. This is especially true with boys, who may feel as if they are forced into a sexual relationship way before they are ready. Most boys feel pressure from their male friends, especially if these friends have had sexual relationships in the past.

Teenage girls also feel pressure, but not as much as boys do. In a recent survey, 63% of the boys questioned admit that they had felt the pressure compared to only 23% for the girls. Only a handful of teenagers don’t feel it at all or opted to wait for the right time to have sex.

Waiting Is Always Best

From most parent’s point of view, waiting to have sex is better than choosing the right contraceptive method. Parents prefer that their kids be taught of the right values in schools instead of teaching them which birth control pill is better to use. They believe that preventing teenage pregnancy can be also done through encouraging teenagers to practice self-discipline and chastity.

But the practice of safe sex should not be ignored altogether, because in the end, the choice is always in the teenager. Parents cannot really impose upon them what to do and what not to do in matters like these. And so all teenagers should make sure that they make the right choice at all times – and always as if their future depends on it.

Sex Education Teenagers and Abortion

If sex education has not achieved its ultimate goal of informing young adults the practice of safe sex, then unwanted pregnancies may arise. And because teenagers do have a choice as to how they are to live their lives, they have a choice whether to continue with the pregnancy or end it through abortion.

Abortion is the medical process of ending a woman’s pregnancy. It can be done in different ways, but the main goal is to remove the fetus or the embryo from the uterus. Abortion is legal in the U.S., but 34 states presently enforce notification laws or parental consent for all minors who intend to seek it. This means that before a teenager can go to a doctor and have it done, she have to inform at least one of her parents about it.

Abortion is not at all simple. Nor it is the easier way out of an unwanted pregnancy. Being pregnant at a very young age is already a big twist in a teenager’s life. Whatever choice she make about it, there will be negative consequences to face.

The most observed effects of abortion in teenagers are psychological in nature. Most of these teenagers succumb to the feeling of great sadness and sorrow, which can eventually lead to depression. Some teenagers develop a strong feeling of either guilt or anger. Some feel guilty because they chose to end their baby’s life. Some feel angry with their own selves because they failed to practice what was thought in sex education.

And many become surprised to see that they have developed intense emotional reaction to what they have done even though they have thought the whole thing over and over. It is as if it bugs them tremendously. Some teenagers tend to project a low self-image primarily because the incident is fresh in their minds and flashbacks recur from time to time. And in some extreme cases, there would be persistent nightmares and hallucinations.

Unwanted pregnancy leading to abortion is certainly one of the reasons why sex education is required by teenagers and even younger kids. They are supposed to know what these things are and what could happen if they end up choosing the wrong things in life. Being in a relationship is but normal. In fact, it is a necessary part of life. But as with everything else, there is always an amount of responsibility that comes with it – and that exactly what sex education should teach.

Sex Education for Kids

Kids eight years old and below are supposed to learn something about sexuality. They need not know everything right then and there, but they sure require satisfactory answers to their questions. Kids of this age are naturally curious and they must have decided to throw at least one at their parents. But unfortunately, not all parents are there for their kid’s inquiries. Some kids may have only one parent. Some have none at all. And more sadly, some have at set of parents who fails to understand what it means to give their children the right amount of attention.

But whichever the case, kids here are the different things kids aged 3 to 8 years old have to learn about sex and their sexuality:

1. Boys and girls are different. There are certain body parts that are exclusive to boys and there are parts that only girls have. Basically, they are called the reproductive organs. And because they are still kids, these body parts are not yet fully developed. But as they begin to grow, several changes are expected. These changes are normal, and so there’s no need to be afraid.

2. Puberty is the start of adulthood. The changes are going to be apparent as one enters into puberty. The exact age of puberty cannot be determined as it varies from one person to another. Some kids enter into it as early as 8 years old. But generally, it happens between 10 to 12 years of age. At which point, the body suddenly grows very fast.

3. Basic Changes In Boys. Boys tend to grow 4 inches taller in a matter of just a year. And to complement this growth, their shoulders starts to widen and their bodies become a lot muscular as well. Their voice suddenly becomes deeper. Their genitals are enlarged too. Pubic hair will start to grow and mustache is expected. Boys would also experience spontaneous erections at this point.

4. Basic Changes in Girls. Girls will develop during puberty as well. Girls usually gain a little bit more weight and their hips starts to widen. Their breasts will begin to develop too. In two years time, girls are going to have their regular menstrual cycle. Girls, and boys too for that matter, will begin to notice acnes developing in their faces.

5. Emotional changes. Because hormones cause these changes, emotional changes are also anticipated. Emotional outbursts, confusion, the feeling of being sad and alone, very strong emotions, and mood changes all happen. These are but normal. But just the same, if any of these emotions seems to be out of proportion, it is always good to consult with a health professional.

When To Teach Your Children About Sex

Today’s kids are overly conscious and are highly influenced of what they see and hear. With the overstated role of media in a child’s life, there are certainly a lot of misrepresentations and wrong assumptions about sex that have to be corrected. On the other hand, talking to your children about sex is certainly not an easy job. A lot of parents actually feel very uncomfortable in doing so. But that should not be enough reason for you to put the whole thing off. Always remember that part of your child’s future depend on a good sex education coming from their own parents.

The right time to talk to children about sex is during their young and tender ages. These are the years when children are at their most curious stages. They tend to ask about anything and everything under the sun. And the most common question children throw at their parents is how those cute little babies were born. Children could even ask where they came from before they came to be babies. And if you don’t take the opportunity to tell your kids about it, chances are, they would believe anything else they hear around them.

Teaching your kids about sex should start before they reach puberty. It is your responsibility as parent to prepare your children for the changes they can anticipate in their bodies, as they grow older. Some girls start puberty at the very early age of 8, while boys may experience having wet dreams a little younger than that. If your kids know what to expect and when to expect them, then they won’t be afraid or worried about the things they feel the actual change happens.

Talking to children about sex at an early age can actually lessen the awkwardness and discomfort that comes with teaching the subject. Always choose to answer your children’s questions very simply. There is actually no need to exaggerate. Just give them the facts using the closest ideas that they can easily grasp. Young children usually are fine with that.

It is also very important that you give your children only the most truthful answers. Lying to your kids about sex would just make the situation worse. To guide you, try to use a good book as a reference. Doing so would enable them to clearly understand the concepts being introduced. Illustrations can be very effective when talking to kids aged 3 to 4 year old.

Talking to older children, say to kids aged 5 to 8 year old, maybe a little bit more complicated. For one thing, they have a wider knowledge about things than the younger ones. The right strategy would be asking them what they know or what they have heard from others and correct wrong ideas as necessary. An open communication is required so that sex education can be effectively delivered.

Why You Should Teach Your Children About Sex

A lot of people, and even cause-oriented groups, believe that children should be taught about sex and their sexuality in an early age. But as kids, what really is in it for them? How can you gain from it as parents? And what good does sex education can give to your children?

Sex education is a very important subject that every child has to be aware of. The concept of the child’s sexuality needs to be inserted sometime in their life, most preferably before they reach puberty. And it does not only prepare them for the adult life ahead. It also makes them a better person with the right values in the process.

Schools have now adapted sex education to become part of their curriculum. This is how important the subject has been since it is first introduce several years back. Today, all schools take it as part of their duty to provide every student the right information about sex and to inculcate in them the right beliefs, attitudes, and ideas about their identity, sexuality, and intimacy.

But sex education is not all about relationship and intercourse. Teaching it also includes the stages of a person’s physical development, his body image, gender roles, and even his emotions. It is the topic that teaches the younger ones about how they came to be, the way they are expected grow, and their ability to reproduce offspring themselves.

Another important point why sex education needs to be taught to children is to make them aware of the things that will happen within themselves and their social world. Sex education will take away the ignorance that can lead young adults to commit errors in their judgments as far as coupling and sexual interaction are concerned. With proper sex education, the incidence of teen pregnancy and irresponsible parenthood can be controlled.

Sex education will not only enrich the minds of your children. It will also boost their confidence and self-esteem, which consequently, a lot of youngsters seem to lose as they enter puberty. Those without adequate learning about the changes happening in their bodies end up being either afraid or confused about the situation they are facing. And if this dilemma is not addressed right away, the child may grow up shy and intimidated amidst other people.

With all these said, it is a must that sex education start at home. Parents should take it upon themselves to inform their children in a subtle and low-key manner what sex and sexuality is all about. This is quite fitting, as almost all children tend to be very curious about themselves and the world they live in. And surely at one point in their life, they are going to ask a lot of questions about themselves and the things around them. As parents, you should take that as an opportunity to introduce sex education to your kids.

The Role of Media in Sex Education

Everybody, not only kids and young adults, uses either the television or the Internet on a daily basis. And these types of media are jointly considered as two of the most used sources of sexual health facts and data of young adults. And if these are used properly, then they could be very powerful tools in disseminating information that pertains to sex education.

Today’s modern media had certainly evolved to become a central part of a person’s life, no matter what age bracket he belongs to. Statistics show that most teenagers spend at lease three hours a day listening to music, and watching television shows, music videos, and films. As for web surfing, young adults do that four times in a week with an average usage of two hours per session.

It is then quite safe to say that young individuals have the tendency to turn into media for answers to their individual sexual health questions if and when their parents fail to teach them such things. But then again, parents can always take advantage of what they see on TV about sexual health as something to discuss to their children with. It is just a matter of fostering an open communication with them.

Responsible media campaigns about sex and sexuality could definitely produce positive results as far as guiding and teaching a teenager’s mind is concerned. But then again, media cannot be controlled at all times and the freedom of speech is always observed. It is a sad fact that not everything that children see on TV, more especially the Internet is right. It is therefore safe to conclude that parents should not leave teaching sex education to their kids with the boob tube. They should not even let schools do that important job for them.

In the same way, teenagers should not always believe what the TV or the Internet says about sexual health information, or any other topic for that matter. It is always proper to consult with a knowledgeable adult before accepting the facts presented to you. And there’s no one better than your parents to ask the questions to.

It’s a good thing though, that media advocates and watchdogs are always there to monitor television ads that come out every now and then. These groups give much of their time and effort in making sure that only the most accurate information about sexual health are fed to the viewing public, most especially the children.

The Right Way Of Teaching Children About Sex

It is always assumed that the first teachers of a child about sex are his parents. And this is quite right. Nobody can teach a child better than his own mom and dad. For one thing, sex education should be introduced at an early age, most preferably before children start schooling or when they first spring the question “How did I came to be?”

Teaching children about sex and their sexuality should be treated with pure honesty, no matter how young or old the child being talked to maybe. It is the complexity of the subject that has to be regulated. Very young children, mostly the 3 and 4 year olds, do not have to learn about orgasm just yet, but the much older ones needs to. Prudence and candor have to be practiced at all times when talking about this subject.

It is also important that parents give their children the chance to participate in the discussion. Education is two-way and listening is a skill every teacher has to master. As a parent and the teacher of your child, always assume nothing and encourage your children to ask questions as you go along. And make it a point that you answer each question they ask very truthfully regardless if it is related to sex or not. This could actually be a start of a more open relationship between you and your child.

And while in the process of your child airing his questions and thinking out loud, he could get very mistaken and badly off the mark about his ideas regarding sex and sexuality. Being judgmental or demeaning about it is not going to help. Instead, carefully straighten his views and give him support. Scorn and resentment should not be hinted to them at all, especially not with children past the age of puberty, as they tend to be more rebellious and stubborn during such stages.

The main idea of introducing sex education to children is to make them aware of the changes their body will undergo, the relationships and emotions they are going to feel sooner or later, and the consequences of careless sexual actions that they could possibly indulge into. With these in mind, parents will be greatly guided as to which path to take to achieve these goals. The method of teaching that parents should use could vary from one child to another. Any form of teaching can be adapted with full liberty, especially if that is the method the parents know their children would learn from the most.

The bottom line is this: parents should set the groundwork of sex education in their children. The community and schools are always there to support them, but these two groups can only do so much than a pair of responsible parents can.

What Kids Should Learn In Sex Education

Debates go on and on as to whether to teach children about safe sex or to influence them toward sexual abstinence as they go through their young adulthood life. While several groups and advocates still can’t make up their minds, there are some basic things kids and teenagers have to know first.

First off, kids have to be taught about their sexuality and the body parts that are gender specific. It is also important to teach them what changes they can expect in the near future or when they reach the puberty stage. Teaching them the roles and functions of each body part will also serve as a good framework in teaching them about the reproduction process.

Young kids are likely to ask how they were born and how they came to be. These are good signals as to when parents can introduce to their kids about the reproduction system and the process of conception. Depending upon their ages, parents can thoroughly explain every stage and what exactly happens in each of them.

And once it is clear to the children the idea of how babies came to be, the concepts of love, courtship, and intimacy come next. These concepts anticipate the child’s social interactions, mostly to the persons of the opposite sex. It is okay to tell children that some emotions are normal. An open communication between child and parent is necessary, especially when they reach this point. Children past the puberty stages are expected to undergo first hand experiences about relationships. Parental guidance is very important.

Teenagers past the age of puberty will already have well-developed bodies and are most of them are likely to go out in dates and other social gatherings. This is actually where the debate as stated previously needs to be settled. And the only persons who can decide which is best for their children are their own parents. If parents feel that abstaining from sexual relations at an early age is best for their kids, it is imperative that the value of doing so is inculcated in them. If on the other hand, they favor the use of contraceptives, they should always be there to explain why and when they should be used.

Sex education does not necessarily have to be taught in one go. It is a gradual and evolving process, mostly to make sure that what parents teach their children are up to the times and are highly accurate. The schools and the community the children belongs to are now actively participating in the process of teaching young adults about sexual health. Parents are not alone anymore in tackling this rather difficult and awkward topic. Then again, it is still the parents’ responsibility and the teenager’s duty to make sure that they receive and accept only the right information about it.