good children's books about sex and when to discuss it

[marussja]

Please can anyone recommend any good and easy to read book for an almost 9 year old?

[jampot]

I think there was a thread recently about this. I have "Lets Talk about Sex" for my kids. Bought it when dd was about 9 but my 7 year old loves to look at the funny pictures!!!! It explains about sex/relationships/disease/puberty/everything from 2 characters called Bird and Bee (one who is excited about the changes and one who doesn't want to change). Thoroughly recommend it.

[willow2]

I think Babette Cole has written one - her other books are priceless so imagine this might be worth a look at.

[mummysurfer]

i ordered babette cole's 2 books
Hair in Funny Places &
Mummy Laid an Egg

Both very amusing, but we decided that dd wasn't quite old enough, she's just8.
H in F P was done in a very clever way. Mr & Mrs Hormone live in our bodies but don't do anything until childern recah about 10. It then covers what they do to the fe/male body, includes periods, wet dreams... nothing in much detail but all good discussion openers

[Freckle]

I second the recommendation for Let's talk about sex. Bought it for my then 9yo. Whenever he came out with certain questions, I'd direct him to the appropriate section in the book to read and we'd then discuss it. He has it in his room and I often find it on his bed or chair, so he clearly looks at it at other times too.

[tigermoth]

my almost 10 year old shows not the slightest interest in the birds and the bees. Never asks questions. Never has. I am seriously beginning to worry.

In Steve Biddulph's book, 'Raising Boys' he recommends mums and dads take their pre pubescent sons for a special grown up meal and then start talking about sex and love - celebrating their boy's entrance into adulthood. Sort of like a tribal coming of age ceremony. Mad! I cannot see this being successful with my son. I expect he would be sooo...embarassed.

[Freckle]

Well, I have to say that my eldest, at 9, didn't ask specific questions. It just became apparent that he was coming home from school with a few ideas which were clearly from friends who knew only slightly more than he did. Rather than have him belief the myths and legends which circulate in playgrounds, I gave him the Let's Talk book open at the sexual intercourse chapter and told him to read it. His view at the end was that it is all completely disgusting and that he's never going to marry a girl! Was a bit non-plussed when I asked if he was going to marry a boy

Anyway, if you are worried about his lack of interest, get the book and suggest certain chapters might be interesting. You can take a horse to water, etc. but he might show more of an interest if you break the ice for him.

[hatter]

Hi there,

if you're in London I'd recommend a trip to the Natural History Museum - the human biology section is really good - there's lots of stuff to provoke questions/raise interest but there's lots of other context too - babies growing in the womb, child development, hormones etc. Haven't got to that stage with my kids yet but I should imagine it would be a good way of getting a lot of stuff explained without having to make a big deal of it - you can make it seem like it's all come out by accident.

[StripyMouse]

Hah - this thread title amused me. Reminded me instantly of the day when my mum, rather red cheeked, handed me two short books and mumbled something about reading them carefully and not to be embarrassed about talking to ehr if there were any bits I didn?t understand...her body language screaming out at me that if I did it could well be the most traumatic experience of her life since child birth
One book was a cartoon picture book type thing all about periods and I read it cover to cover in pure shock and disbelief over and over again. I wish I knew what happened to it - it was done in the style of "The Four Susans" type comic I used to get as a kid and was priceless. The other was a book all about "love" and making babies - I can still visualise the page with a rather crude (in the badly drawn sense rather than rude sense of the word) picture of a bed with two people lying naked one on top of the other, both smiling and facing towards you. The writing said something like mummys and daddys sometimes like to cuddle on the bed without their clothes on.... it was truly hilarious and I had no idea what it was on about at all, went totally over my head at the age of 10 lol I can clearly remember thinking that if mum and dad did that, they would get frezzing cold really easily and couldn?t understand why one had to lie on top of the other as it couldn?t possibly be very comfy!! My mum took that book off me to lend to our next door neighbour to give to her son - now a strapping 6 foot 6" policeman - come to think of it, I don?t think he ever gave it back...!!
Sorry for going off topic, it just has brought back so many funny memories of a time when I was truly very very innocent. Aaah, those were the days.

[tigermoth]

When I was younger, I always felt more comfortable with sex education at school, and reading books by myself - asking my own parents questions was much more embarassing. But now as a parent, I feel dh and I should be telling our sons about sex. What a double standard! My husband intends to have some man to man talks with our son but is waiting for him to show some interest. I really like the natural history musseum idea, but had my own mum done that to me I would have been mortified

[robinw]

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[Pook]

I can remember as a child reading "Where do I come from?" In fact it'd been bought for my brothers (then 5 and 6) by a family friend when my mother was expecting me. It had cartoons, including, astonishingly, thousands of sperm wearing dinner jackets and top hats. ) And comically unattractive in a Beryl Cook kind of way man/woman.

[brewergirl]

SO delighted to find this website - am just coming to the stage with my 8 yr old girl who is very interested and beginning to need a bra (i started at 9 so have been on tenterhooks for a while). Am going to try not to be just like my mother - redfaced and embarassed - but don't hold out much hope for my husband. Any hints on how I should soften the blow for him?

[willow2]

My mum recalls explaining the facts of life to my brother when he was about 7 or so - his response: That's disgusting and I'm only ever going to do it with you.

Bless.

[discordia]

I have found with my dd (7) that she is fascinated with the idea of a baby growing in it's mummy's tummy but not at all interested in the process of "making a baby". Maybe because of her Christian upbringing, she thinks all conceptions are immaculate ...

[Freckle]

Willow2, your brother sounds like my DS1. I've had to embark on dealing with long-term loving and appropriate relationships, girlfriends, etc., because, having learnt all about sexual intercourse, he couldn't understand why he couldn't do it with me!

[Brockster8]

Just be glad your parents didn't give you the 1970's book with photos I was given.

[mummytogirls]

I have an 11 year old girl that has been googling sex on you tube (it appears the internet settings weren't robust enough). We have spoken to her previously and talk openly, answering questions etc. but I think she still needs more help in understanding. Please can anyone recommend an age-related book. She is very hormonal and some searches included girl-girl you tube clips, I have no problem with her being curious but obviously the internet was not the correct forum for findings out what she needs to know. I really want to provide her with all the information she needs.

[SherbrookeFosterer]

To tigermoth

Don't worry, children develop at their own speed, so don't rush him.

Remember the story of the boy who tried to help a butterfly break out of its chrysalis & the consequences!