Five year olds to get sex education

I really can't understand people's objections to these kinds of proposals. The fact that Britain has some of, if not the, worst rates of teen pregnancy and STDs in western Europe shows that the sex education in practice just doesn't work.
Yet look to somewhere like the Netherlands, where age-appropriate education starts at round the age of 5, and they have one of the lowest rates of teen pregnancy, and also a higher average age of first-time sex.
Of course 5 year olds don't need to be taught about the mechanics and biology of sex, but I think one of the problems in this country regarding sex education is that kids are too embarrassed to talk about sex and their bodies. They're embarrassed to ask parents and teachers questions, embarrassed to go and get contraceptives, and don't take the advice they're given seriously, and so even when they reach their mid-late teens many are painfully ignorant of the realities of sex. The main way to combat this has to be to start discourse early, so children will grow up to be comfortable talking about these kinds of things.

This is a complex project. As a gandfather to 15, I find that children have different ages of request for this knowledge. Some are happy to cruise along in a warm family environment, others are outgoing and giggley while others are quiet and observing.

This question overall, is about stopping children experimenting to the point where unwanted pregnancies come about.

In this question, there is no place for same sex individuals. The best that parents could do in this situation, is to make the schools aware that the child is homosexual and omit them from such lessons.

I would suggest that at the age of ten, such children are made known to the likes of stonewall who cater for these abnormalities.

I can remember asking my parents how babies are made. They went to our GP to ask his advise. He recommended the truth. This was at the age of 11 as I recall. I also remember,then knowing more about the subject than anyone else at school.

Alot of sexual abuse happens within family structure and is also cyclical to the point that children are told its ok. Only to find out much older that it is not and wonder why they were left to suffer such abuse..... My daughter has a great grandfather who is a molestor and I do have a no contact order. Her mother lied to the family courts about the situation and tried to have the courts allow a relationship between this guy and my daughter. Why she still has custody is beyond my comprehension........If one parent says its ok, and the other says it isnt this can confuse a child. With a third party involved they will be able to discern the truth.

At this age it's not about the mechanics of sex.

It's about the proper names for their body parts and that other people shouldn't be touching them.

My 8 year old isn't interested in girls yet either, but he is probably more educated on this subject than most. He's always had a penis, never a ding-a-ling, or a willy, or a wiener.

I've also found that this early communication has been a huge asset. My 12 year old daughter is far more open with us than any of her friends. Talking about subjects that most tweens shy away from. And why shouldn't she be...we've been talking like this forever.

We've always answered their questions honestly and age appropriately. Why lie or misinform?

i asked my 7 year old nephew the other day if he liked girls and he said no . if he's still saying no at 13 then him not knowing how to make babies really won't be a big issue .

Government schools require all kinds of shit like this. By sending your kids to public schools you are allowing the government to educate your child. This is what you get. Shitty curriculum, shitty programs, shitty food, and all the shit the government decides to inject into you child's mind and bloodstream in the form of shots.

sex education doesn't equate to learning how to give a blowjob.

Well if i were a parent i wont allowed my child to here about that bacause thats totally wrong ,because when they are in school they are gonna do it because they know about it thats not right for kids to know at,and they are to small to know about that.

oh no!this is bs
their to young to be
learning this kind of stufff

Mommy, what is Barney doing to Elmo!?!

nothing wrong with early education however is this going to be preventative or is curiosity going to get the cat pregnant

I don't know if it will completely get rid of teenage pregnancies... but maybe it's a a step in the right direction... I do agree with the fact that all the class itself would accomplish nothing but childish giggles... I remember getting sex ed in the 6th grade and all anyone did was laugh... hearing "penis" and "vagina" was absurd at that age.

Babies making babies.

Every step in human development is a building block for the next progression. You don't forget what you have been taught at a young age, you build upon it. Beginning sex education at a young age, teaching children about respecting themselves and others, differences in girls and boys, are all crucial stepping stones to the next stages of development. Teaching kids to respect themselves and others should happen way before the actual act of sex ever enters the picture.
I say cheers... the earlier the sex ed the better.

Sex education should be optional, for the parents to decide. If not, it'd be like forcing them to watch soft, SOFT porn.

I would have loved to have something like this at that age. I was being called a "faggot" in elementary school before I even knew what that term meant.

Age-appropriate. That's what matters. Only good can come from telling kids that strange adults shouldn't be touching them in certain places on their body, etc.

This misleading headline is another yawner attempt to portray intelligent defense against pedophilia as sexual depravity.

Try again, you pro-pedophile right-wingers!

Don't ruin the self-exploration time on the playground! I wonder if they'll steer clear of the opposite sex from fear of cooties or stds now?

Wow, misleading headline much?

I had "sex ed" when I was in Gr. 1. I remember it. It wasn't at all about sex. It taught us that boys and girls had "parts" and that NO ONE was allowed to touch them without one's consent. I was young, yes, but did it TEACH me about sex? No.

It's unbelievable for people to think that children will be told about how to have safe sex. That isn't going to happen and if you do believe they will, you have bought into propaganda that wants you to remain ignorant.

Oh, btw, I didnt become sexually active at a tender age of 12 just because I learned about my body at 6. The more educated you are about your own self and body, the less likely you will want to have someone older and more experienced teach you about it at a young age.

I think this is a great idea. Children absorb so much information younger. Hence why child psychologists recommend children picking up a language or learning to play an instrument because they learn it more quickly and absorb it more.

My only concern is that they provide safe-sex education and some abstinence on the side (to make some people happy). Concerning the problem with same-sex couples, I was never taught that it was between a man or a woman. I was always taught that it was between two people who loved each other. Teachers should stress that fact when teaching children.

it is such a load of right wing bullshit to call this sex ed for kindergartners. gimme a fucking break. nobody believes that except survivalist wackos hiding out in bunkers with confederate flags hanging all over their trailers.

How much of this do you think these kids will remember?

I started infants school when I was five years old albeit over seventy years ago and I consider myself at the time to be very immature compared with the children of today

To this day I can remember the name of my teacher a Miss Potts. Unfortunatley I did not know what to ask or say as I wanted to go to the toilet.

I messed my pants and for a few years after I was known as Georgie Babba Pants by my school mates. This taught me one lesson and that is to laugh at myself and learnt that if you do people will forget such major (at the time) problems

Being taught the first thing about sex at that age would have gone in one ear and out of the other, learning how to ask to leave the room would have been more beneficial

The last thing on a 5yr olds mind is sex and telling them about it is just goin to make them more curious about it, I have 2 daughters who were raped by children a little older than them, and that was the case, It's not nessasary to introduce sex topics to a 5yr old, they'll grow up soon enough!

All I see coming from this is childish giggles to be honest

call me old fashion, but untill you have the ability to get an erection sex ed is not really that important. this will surely make parents mad, because they assumed that they had another 6-8 years before they would have to talk about the birds and the bees.

beta_boy
your concern is legit, and maybe that could be one of those 'more in depth' lessons the child gets as they mature?

Where did that picture come from in the first place? It wasn't a part of the article.

Good one nazbags...I ducked mentioning same sex couplings as I'm not sure where I stand on this either. I'm happy for kids to be taught about loving relationships in non specific terms but I cannot imagine how this could be explained empathetically or correctly without causing uproar.

Maybe I'm just being ignorant.

As others have been saying, as long as it if fitting for that child's age, I agree.
Not talking about sex just makes the whole issue worse.

I think this is a wonderful idea - however, I wonder where same sex couplings will come in? The picture says "a man and a woman" ... shouldn't they be teaching the kids that there are alternatives to that as well?

As long as they are not teaching that sex is bad, wrong, or dirty im cool with it. I hope religion is nowhere to be found when the teachers are teaching these lessons.

This is a great idea and should have been enforced ages ago. Being open with kids and getting rid of stupid outdated taboos is positive progression. Just look at the Dutch.

From what I understand, at that age, all they are required to teach is how to avoid predators, which is a wonderful thing. This may be a bit misleading... please look into it closely before blasting it.

The key idea here is that it's going to be age-appropriate. For kids in grade school it will focus on self-esteem and friendships. I don't think anyone needs to worry that 1st graders will be learning about sex under Obama's plan.

I don't think it is likely to be graphic. The UK has the worst record for teenage pregnancy in Europe and it is something we need to be more proactive about. Sex and sexual relationships should be discussed openly if we are to combat the imagery and ideology of this sex sells world.

sounds like right wing bullshit to me. surely they're just going to warn 5 year olds how to avoid peados.

As long as they're starting with the big picture and not getting into anything too detailed, I don't really see the problem. I have a big problem with the mindset of many opponents of this that just talking about loving relationships and sex will necessarily lead to them having sex earlier. If anything, I think it could have the opposite effect for some kids who want to know about sex without having to have sex to find out.