Sexual Health Education Seminars for Parents – How to educate children about sex
“Is it essential that we provide sexual health education to young children?”
“It’s a little difficult for me to talk to my children about sex. How should I broach the topic?”
“Sexual health education is important, but what should parents teach? How to go about it?”
Sexual health education has long been a topic that many parents are concerned about, but some parents are not quite sure how to address it appropriately. Whenever a child asks a question about sexual health, some parents will almost always avoid it and change the topic.
In order to help parents carry out appropriate and holistic sexual health education with their children, our school’s Parent Support Group (PSG) and the “Harbour of Heart” psychological counseling center invited Ms. Chen Jing, founder of Yujian “Love Sex Education”, to give sexual health education lectures for parents in the primary school. Ms. Jing is also an expert consultant with the United Nations Population Fund and Reproductive Health Project, and a senior sexual health education trainer. She obtained her Master of Education from East China Normal University.
Teacher Chen believes that primary school is an important period for sexual health education. The first and second grades are the ‘enlightenment period’ of sexual health education, the third and fourth grades are the ‘golden period’ of sexual health education, and the fifth grade is the best remedial period for sexual health education. It is important that this education be carried out with children so that scientific, healthy and appropriate sexual values are established as early as possible.
Ms Chen first demonstrated the five dimensions of comprehensive sexual health education for parents. She then shared information on sexual assault cases. These vivid case analyses are used to help parents learn how to educate their children to prevent sexual assault. She then taught the audience about caesarean sections and vaginal births, and helped parents learn how to answer their children’s questions such as, “Where did I come from?” After that, she led parents into and exploration of the timeline of children’s growth: the transition from heterosexual alienation to heterosexual attraction. Finally, Ms. Chen shared with parents how to conduct sexual health education with children in age-appropriate ways.
Mr. Chen’s humorous, easy-going lecture had the audience laughing throughout. The rich and detailed case studies gave parents a lot of useful knowledge. The scientific professional explanations helped to dissipate parents’ confusion surrounding the process of providing children with sexual health education.
Some parents said, “If we do not give children sexual health education at home or in school, they will secretly learn about this knowledge through other informal channels, which may be unscientific and unhealthy.”
Some parents asserted, “Sexual health education is a very skilled and specialized subject. Many difficult questions that I had felt ashamed to discuss before have been properly answered today.”
Another parent responded: “Today I have a new understanding of ‘sex’, and I should not avoid the doubts raised by my children about this topic.” I need to learn more about sexual health education, answer them in a children-friendly way, and satisfy children’s curiosity and thirst for knowledge. I will go home and use my newfound understanding!”
At the end of the lecture, parents raised their questions about sexual health ducation. Teacher Chen gave a scientific answer: When a child reaches a certain age, he will certainly experience sexual feelings and issues. At this time, if parents take the initiative to guide and help children to establish healthy sexual understandings and values, gender awareness, and appropriate relationships with other children, it will be very beneficial in the long term.
- Q: How do I respond when my child tells me that he/she likes a classmate?
A: First of all, parents should create a friendly ‘chit-chat’ opportunity with their child, then try to figure out why the child likes his/her classmate and explore through the conversation the other child’s attractive characteristics. Finally, the parent can help the child discover more traits worthy of appreciation to expand the child’s emotional cognition.
- Q: During an argument with my child, he/she asked me, “Why did you bring me into this world without my consent?” How should I answer this question?
A: “When I gave birth to you, it wasn’t just me who was trying to give birth – you were also trying to come out, and you were the ‘frontrunner’ among hundreds of millions of others trying to have the opportunity to come into this world. So, it was a decision made by both sides.”
- Q: How should parents guide children to correctly understand physiological changes?
A: First of all, firmly tell the child that there is nothing wrong with them and that these changes are normal. Then, it is important to convey relevant knowledge to satisfy the child’s curiosity and desire for knowledge. Finally, pay more attention to their emotional changes, and guide them to do something they are interested in to divert their attention and relieve their emotional distress.
Our school and the “Spiritual Building” psychological counseling center will regularly hold a series of mental and physical health lectures for parents. Please scan the following QR code and input your requests. We will take your suggestions in consideration when planning future lectures.
I hope we can work together to help children grow up in a healthy and happy way!
Sexual health education lectures for students
– The origin of life and physiological hygiene
In early April, Ms. Chen Jing led an empowering sexual health education seminar for Grade 5 children.
Teacher Chen led the students to explore answers to the question, “Where did I come from?” The children learned more about sperm and ova and the reproduction of life. From a demonstration using appropriate educational models of the birthing process, children learned about where they came from.
Then, when Ms. Chen explained the differences between the bodies of boys and girls, the children realized the importance of their genitalia, learned how to protect them, and learned how to keep them clean and healthy. They gained a deeper understanding of the physical changes experienced at different stages of growth and learned to accept those changes more calmly and rationally.
Finally, Teacher Chen showed a video of a birth, and students then discovered the origin of their life, learning how to cherish life and be grateful to their parents. By discussing how sperm and eggs combine, they learned to follow social norms and protect their privacy.
In a relaxed and safe environment, the children were full of innocent laughter and became more and more at ease. Naturally, new ‘burning’ questions emerged:
“I haven’t experienced my period yet, but a friend of mine the same age as me has already had a period. Is that normal?”
“After a sperm and egg are combined, what determines the baby’s gender? How are boy-and-girl twins formed?”
“How do you clean your genitalia? How can I tell if my genitalia are injured or infected?”
After the lecture, the children gathered around Ms Chen and voiced their concerns and questions. Ms Chen gently provided answers one by one. The children remarked, “Other subjects have specific lessons for gaining knowledge, but it is not the case with sexual health education. It is the first time we have had such an important and relevant lesson. This is all so necessary!”
We hope that parents can also calmly discuss related topics with their children, provide scientific sex health education, and help children grow up healthily!