Human Sexuality — What Children Need to Know and When — At a Glance
- It’s best to start talking with children about sexuality in early childhood — but it’s never too late to start.
- Giving our children age-appropriate information will help them feel more in control of their bodies and make responsible decisions.
- All kids — including those with disabilities — need to learn about sexuality.
We want our children to grow up to have healthy and happy lives. For most of us, this includes having rewarding relationships and sex lives.
To help them reach this goal,
we need to
- give them the information they need to make responsible choices
- encourage them to take good care of their bodies
- help them build the confidence they need to respect themselves and other people
- earn their respect — if we can do that, they are more likely to look to us and other trusted adults for information when they need it
Teaching our children about sexuality is an ongoing process. They need a lot of information. They need to know about everything from anatomy to puberty to masturbation to healthy relationships.
Our children don’t all learn at the same rate. But here are some general guidelines that apply to most kids. They’re about what children need to know and what communication skills they need to have when it comes to sex and sexuality. We have grouped them according to what is appropriate for different age groups. We hope they are helpful.
