What is the best age to teach children about the birds and the bees?

Under 11 so they know all the facts and that they have no issues or hang ups about sex in later life or over 11 when they will understand it more and have a better understanding of love and relationships?

 

I think you should go by their questions. They will ask when they are ready to know, as a general rule. When my son was about 10 1/2 yrs old he asked his father a few questions (and I'm not ashamed to admit I'm glad he asked his dad). His father told him a few things, factual, and then we went and stayed at his father's family's farm that weekend.

It was a great weekend...it was spring and most of the animals were in heat.

My son watched, laughed and never had another question.

 

before they get the internet.

 

If the child is a girl I would make sure she knows about getting periods before she actually does. I thought I was dying. I was in so much pain and blood coming out. It was traumatic. Considering I had two older sisters I am amazed that I was never told about it before it happened.

 

I think a lite version when they are11-13, then full version around the time they start hanging around friends away from home.

 

Over and over and over again. Each age will have different kind of questions, and require different kind of answers. My eldest is 18 and a virgin (mostly sure of that) and I still discuss sex with her.

 

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my mom and I never ever talked about sex. I felt too awkward to bring it up and I guess she just comes from a generation that isn't open about such things. We've still never had a conversation about sex. She probably thinks the stork brought my baby.

I think 10-11 is a good time to talk about basic sexual anatomy (periods, masturbation, etc) but I would wait until a little older to discuss the concept of your child actually having sex responsibly and using birth control. I would base it on the individual child too. If a child hits puberty later and doesn't seem to have any interest or curiosity in sex then it may freak them out to be too frank about it at, for example, age 13 and it may be better to wait until 15 or 16. Some 13 year olds definitely need the talk these days though.

 

My son has just turned 9 we have had a brief chat about the differences between a man and a woman when he got to a page about reproduction in his science book but we haven't got into any great detail yet. I don't think he really needs that yet but I've got it all to come!

 

You need to introduce some basic concepts about human sexuality to kids once they head off to school. That includes things like same sex relationships, for example. Not so much the mechanics, but kids need to know that it's ok to like someone of the same gender, and how to handle that if they do, appropriate forms of touch for their age, etc. All of that is part of HS.

 

37.

 

I have had several conversations with my sons over the last few years. Its never just a one time deal and I encourage them to ask questions and be informed from me, rather than magazines or the internet.

 

I think it really depends when you feel they are ready. Many children will start to show signs they are ready by the questions they ask or the things they say which I feel is then an appropriate time to sit them down and explain to them.

 

Pretty much as soon as they can read.

There are some great, age appropriate books out there.

In the early years, anatomy is a good place to start. Then you can move on to how babies are made.

Don't wait for them to approach you. Be the grown up and educate your children, just like you would with math and spelling.

 

When our daughter was about 6, she was transfixed by the bees when they swarmed and when I explained how a swarm was caused when a virgin queen fled an overcrowded hive it seemed to make some sense.
I don't quite know how 20,000 bees with only one fertile female (queen) a dozen or so males (drones) and the rest female without any reproductive organs (workers) relates to human life.
Probably the animal version of communism.

 

Do you not allow sleepovers before 14???

 

If a parent is waiting for the child to iniate the conversation, then the parent is late to the game.

 

When I was 10, a 13 year old girl showed me what "things " were for and how they were used. The grownups in my so-called family were blue noses.

 

I think it’s always best to start as early as you can, but to give them the information that will be good for them at whatever age they’re at. Waiting til they hit puberty will be too late because they’ll have heard and seen a lot of different things from friends and the internet by then. You could teach them about the parts, masturbation, babies, and relationships.


Letting them know the different parts boys and girls have when they’re around 5 or 6 is good, especially if they have an opposite sex sibling. Boys will often discover their penis so to speak at about that age and it might be helpful to let them know it’s ok to touch it but to only do it in private. Then they can learn to self soothe before bed without embarrassing themselves or anyone else. Girls can benefit from that too but might need a bit more instruction. Parents might find them rubbing against furniture and such, so giving them a pillow or big stuffed animal would help them. You definitely want to teach girls about sex and babies at around 8 or 9 because they’ll probably get their buds at 9 or 10 and their periods around 11 to 13. For boys you can teach them about sex around 11 or 12 before puberty starts. Then as early teens you can teach the more in depth aspects of relationships and different types. This has certainly worked for our two, though parents may have other thoughts about ages and topics.