Contents:
- Medical Video: Nick Kroll & John Mulaney Give Teens Puberty Advice
- What needs to be discussed?
- Tips for providing sex education for preteens
Medical Video: Nick Kroll & John Mulaney Give Teens Puberty Advice
Many parents underestimate the importance of sex education for preteens aged 9-10 years. Preteens must learn about sexuality, relationships with the opposite sex, as well as all matters concerning the male and female reproductive systems. Do not let the child already heard the wrong information about sex from a source that cannot be trusted, like his friends. Children also need to know that their parents can be invited to talk and discuss about sex, relationships with the opposite sex, and health problems. Don't wait until the child becomes a new teenager giving sex education.
READ ALSO: Why Do All Children Need Sex Education
What needs to be discussed?
For boys in preteens, a study in the United Kingdom showed that they often felt anxious about puberty-related physical changes. However, beyond that you should also discuss the following points.
- What is puberty and what physical changes will occur, for example changes in voice, height increases, pimples appear, the body becomes more sweaty, fur appears in various areas of the body such as the armpits, face, legs and genitals
- Guidelines for caring for yourself during puberty, including how to shave, prevent body odor, and wash your face
- What is erection, ejaculation, wet dreams, and masturbation
- What is sex and other sexual activities such as kisses and hugs, including how pregnancy can occur
- How to establish relationships with the opposite sex, including how to treat female friends, what is dating, and restrictions that must be followed by children
READ ALSO: How Many Masturbations Are You Still Considering Normal?
Girls aged 9-10 years also worry a lot about the various physical changes that will occur when puberty. Don't forget to discuss the following with your daughter.
- What is puberty and what physical changes will occur such as breast growth, menstruation, spots appear, pimples appear, feathers appear on body parts such as the armpits and vagina
- Guidelines for caring for yourself during puberty, including how to wear a bra / minibar, wear sanitary napkins during menstruation, wash your face, prevent body odor, maintain a balanced diet, and maintain healthy vagina
- What is sex, kissing, masturbation, and how pregnancy can occur
- How to establish relationships with the opposite sex, including how to treat male friends, protect themselves from the dangers of sexual abuse, what is dating, and restrictions that must be obeyed by children
READ ALSO: Recognizing Various Types of Sexual Harassment: Not Only Rape
Tips for providing sex education for preteens
When you hear about sex education for preteens, the first thing that might cross your mind is feeling awkward. As a parent, understand that children's development, health, and growth are far more important than the awkwardness that arises. To help you provide sex education for preteens, see the following smart tips.
- Buy books about puberty, menstruation, and sexuality specifically for children his age. Nowadays there are many available in bookstores of various illustrated literature around sex education that children can easily understand. Place the books in the child's room. Then say, "Father / Mother have good books that are important for you to read. Please read carefully, later if there is a question, immediately ask your father / mother, yes. "
- Build a comfortable atmosphere for discussion, for example when a child's mood is good. To avoid being too awkward, start with an introduction such as, "What have you been taught at school? Have you learned about reproduction yet? "From there, let the conversation flow naturally. To attract the attention of children, try to say, "When my father was your age, we wondered what wet dreams and masturbation. How about you?"
- Don't be convoluted. If you talk round and round, the child will lose interest and get caught wrong. Or he will feel that talking about sex is taboo and inappropriate. When explaining what sex is, you can say, "Sex occurs when two adults are ready (or are married) and love each other. The male penis will enter the woman's vagina. Then the penis will release fluid, namely sperm. Sperm will meet the female egg in the womb. If this happens, women will get pregnant. "
- Provide regular and gradual sex education. No need to stuff children with various things in one discussion. Try to discuss one particular topic on each occasion. That way, the child has the opportunity to absorb and remember the information obtained.
- Do not exaggerate. If one day the child asks about sex and you're surprised, don't show your shock or anger at the child. Children will feel threatened and reluctant to ask you the next opportunity. Keep calm and ask carefully from where the child hears about it, don't use accusing or interrogating tones. Then, give an adequate explanation. After that make sure that the child understands your answer.
READ ALSO: Overcoming Late Puberty Conditions
