to be a bit surprised that 11 year olds had school lesson involving putting a condom on a banana?

[Mintyy]

So this is a Year 7 class in a local academy.

Aibu to think that they are still a wee bit too young for this?

and unfortunately pregnancy isn't the worst result of unprotected sex.

Do I want my DC's to know how not to catch HIV? Of course I do.

It's about time not having sex below the age of 16 was an option. We are not protecting our young people by allowing them to think that underage sex is perfectly acceptable. it isn't.

But why? Are your children very suggestible?

Year 7s will learn the plumbing. Do people really think they're just waiting for the contraceptive knowhow before they go and put theory into practice?

and how Vivien are you going to stop them?

i remember my aunt proudly telling me about how her DD had come to her aged 17 and asked if she could go on the pill, and aunt had taken her to the GP and gone through the whole thing and gotten her the pill. this was the same cousin who i had gone with when she was 14 to the same gp and sat with her when she asked to go on the pill. she had been having sex for 3 years before her mum knew a thing about it. she simply asked her GP to go along with the sharade for her mum's sake on her next check up.

I've taught my children how you start and work a car despite the fact they aren't able to drive until they are 17, I don't think that will make them any more likely to drive under age. I've taught them about mortgages and credit cards even though they aren't allowed to have either until they are 18, I'm not sure that will cause them to make an appointment with the bank in the next little while either.

You are extrapolating way ahead of the facts there Viviennemary...

I have never given the impression that having sex below the age of consent is acceptable. I make it clear that it is illegal. I make it clear that any activity involving semen brings with it the risk of pregnancy.

How can people be stopped from doing other illegal things. I think they should either abolish the age of consent (not that I'd want that really) or do something about enforcing it.

Such as?

No,I'm serious mary.

Stop accepting that 'its what kids/teens do'. Drum it home to them that sex is for adults.

How can you tell who's having sex and who isn't?

Yes lets lockup all the teenagers who have sex before their 16th birthday. I'm sure the police have nothing better to do.

abolish the age of consent so paedophiles could carry out sexual acts on children and go unpunished?

I am adding this. Nobody thinks it's a good idea for 13 and 14 year olds to be having sex. But the attitude seems to be oh well they will anyway so we might as well show them how to do it safely. I just don't agree with this attitude I'm afraid.

What do you suggest? Chastity belts?

Of course it's an option.

It's a choice that (I think) my dd has made. Which is great.

But if she didn't make it, what should I have done? Locked her up until 16 or taught her to protect herself?

How do you suggest enforcing it? Do you want to do what they are doing in Ireland and jail kids for sleeping with their boyfriends/girlfriends?

My mother fell pg with me - aged 16 - 44 years ago. Teen sex happens! info is power,

Viviennemary you haven't answered my question:

Would you rather a sexually active 12yo (like my friend at school) was

a. pregnant
b. using condoms?

(Note "c. not having sex." is not an option!)

interested in hearing about vivienne's sex or not test and what the preventative measures/punishments are.

I suppose I should be grateful that marriage was the thing vs abortion. But I can't bring myself to go there...

So would you rather they took risks then?

I don't understand that at all.

I am assuming you think that teaching children about safe sex encourages them to have sex. Like some people think that the HPV vaccination will encourage underage sex.

I disagree.

Dancergirl, are you missing the posts that say we do indeed tell them that they should not be having sex. Because it is illegal.

I haven't got anyall of the answers. I wish I had. But I don't think it's in anybody's interests for children of 13 and even younger to be having sex. Sex is not for children.

But the point is, even if a school mentions (in passing) that sex under 16 is illegal, the vast majority of the lesson gives the impression that under age sex is ok. Which it isn't.

And parents can be just as bad. Too scared that their child will hide having sex to parent them properly and teach them that underage sex is illegal and leaves them vulnerable.

Where will it end? What about condom lessons at primary school? Some 11 year olds have sex so lets make sure they're safe...

I would just like to say

Our teen pregnancy rates are falling thanks to the better sex ed we now teach in our schools. The more we teach teens about this the better informed they are and the less teen pregnancys we have. FACT

That is all

Dancergirl - you have never been in one of my lessons. Like Viviennemary, you are objecting to soemthing that doesn't happen.

Viviennemary - you say that like you expect someone to disagree with you...

No, 13 year olds should not be having sex. Of course.