Should You Be Talking To Your Children About Sex?

This year marks the 25 year birthday of the Sex Education Forum (SEF). When it was formed, it included eight members, three of whom represented religious organisations, and its founding was greeted with much cynicism, with critics saying that the group would not be able to agree on how to teach important topics such as abortion and homosexuality. Teachers welcomed its foundation, however, saying that they often felt isolated when trying to teach these difficult topics.

For years, the SEF has campaigned for compulsory sex and relationship education to be taught in school to all children aged from primary school age upwards. It is thought to be very important to teach children about real life aspects of sex education rather than simply the biological facts of puberty and reproduction.

Sex education matters because it is an intrinsic part of human lives. Teaching sex education can be difficult because it is seen as an awkward or uncomfortable topic and much embarrassment is caused all round, yet this really need not be the case. Sexual health is a normal part of life and knowing how to be secure and safe as they grow up is vitally important for a child’s wellness.

Some schools prefer to teach the subject under the umbrella of ‘growing up’ and through this they cover various aspects of relationships, health and puberty. Through this, they can protect the wellbeing of children when they are exposed to aspects of sexuality as they get older.

The theory that children should be given sex education at a younger age is a valid one, especially in the age of the internet, where information is so readily available to young children, and many parents want to be the first ones to discuss sex with their children so that they can be sure that it is projected in the right way.