Getting really annoyed at news coverage...

[Sophrosyne1]

I am finding myself increasingly annoyed by shoddy journalism and attention grabbing headlines which bear little resemblance to the real story. The latest example of this is the news coverage of the government's intention to make sex and relationship education compulsory in primary schools. Almost every news/ talk show programme seems to be running with a headline along the lines of 'Sex to be taught to 5 year olds!!!' People then text, phone or email in talking about how awful it is and how 5 year olds are innocent and how children shouldn't be taught about contraception until they are at least 28.

Regardless of your opinion on when children should learn about the more explicit side of sexual relationships (and I have to admit to being of the opinion that knowledge, if it is passed on in the right way, will not lead to social collapse and the end of innocence), NO ONE IS PROPOSING THAT 5 YEAR OLDS WILL BE TAUGHT HOW TO USE CONDOMS!!! Stop sensationalising and report the news!

5 year olds will learn about relationships, probably friendships to begin with and perhaps the proper names for some of their body parts. In just the same way as learning English begins with phonics and the alphabet and maths with counting and recognising quantities, sex ed has to start somewhere. Maybe it doesn't make such an attention grabbing headline but its the truth and won't encourage idiots to ring/ email/ phone tv and radio programmes ranting on about 5 year olds learning sex positions and preserving innocence.

And breathe...

I agree Soph, IMO the earlier we start the better, the less embarrassing, the more natural it all seems. The more open we can all be with our kids the better, for them, in the long run. Why should kids not know the proper names for body parts at a young age. They are names, not dirty words, no different to naming any other part.

The UK's problems with teenage pregnancy etc is about LACK of sex ed, not BECAUSE they get sex ed. Learning how to put on a condom in science lessons does not make them go out and do it. And if they are wanting/thinking of it at 12/13, better they have the relevant info than not, surely?

I have already explained the very basics of periods etc to my dd who is 8 (because she asked about a box of sanitary towels). It was a two minute conversation, she was very accepting of the bare facts. No embarrassment on either side.

some parents have double standards - they say "oh i don't want my child having sex ed at a young age" but then let them watch all sorts of post watershed programs and films unsuited to their age and understanding.

So, we've been starting earlier and earlier and, with teens, getting more and more explicit, and yet the teen pregnancy rate is rising?

Totally agree with OP, thought exactly the same when watching lunchtime news. More education, if handled correctly, can only ever be a good thing.

kids are still not getting a good deal. Some teachers are too embarrassed/poorly trained/lacking time to do justice to the subject. some parents still say NOTHING at all to their kids about sex, their development, and relationships. Society, TV, celeb culture, advertising, it's all sex sex sex. People who talk about celibacy , or waiting till marriage are branded as freaks.

the rest of europe has a generally more open approach to sex ed, in the home as well as in schools - and their teenage pg rates shame us

Have just watched 6 oclock news and, once again several sets of parents interviewed all saying stuff like "If you tell kids about this stuff they get inquisitive so it's best to wait 'til they're 15" and " I don't think its right because my kid came home and asked me questions about the reproductive system". Aaaarggg!!!

Does anyone really believe that teenagers won't want to use their body parts if nobody points out to them that they've got them [hmmm]

The teenage pregnancy rate in the UK is the highest in Europe (and I am not going to trot out the example of Holland to prove my point)

I live in Europe now and there is just a very different attitude to relationships and family life in general. Sunbathing topless is so normal that young men here do not oggle and make derogatory sexual comments. It is more common to see nudity on television, in art,in magazines and it is not all the kind of nudity that objectifies women in poses deliberately designed to titilate male readers(sun newspaper). Parents are less uptight about discussing sex with their children and it seems to me that children are more at ease with their bodies. It is normal to see children up to the age of 6 or 7 running around on beaches naked or in their underwear.

Sex education is not about telling children how to put a penis in a vagina (sorry if explicit). It is about discussing feelings, emotions, desires etc. Children tend to wait longer to partake when this holistic approach is applied because it is not an act of rebellion, but something that parents and society understand will inevitably become important to children as they move into adulthood. If we don't open up dialogue with our children in an honest and gently informative way, they endeavour to figure it out for themselves and before they are old enough.

YANBU

I just heard so church leader saying that teaching five year olds about sex is tantamount to child abuse

I think the earlier the better (eduacation that is not sex!), age appropriate of course. Stupid prudish country.

The problem is that people equate "sex education" with "how-to-have-sex"hence the knee-jerk reactions. Bored with hearing about it every news bulletin - the key is age appropraite open discussion about human beings - which will start with friendships and relationships (and may touch on the idea of same-sex couples if there are children in the school with same-sex parents), moving to how your body changes, moving to what the body changes mean, and back to relationships-in-context, including pressure to have sex, STIs etc.

More of an issue that they should be picking up in the news is the fact that they are putting yet more pressure on teachers to meet another government curriculum area. (Oh for the days of my childhood where we actually enjoyed primary school and didn't have special literacy/numeracy sessions but still learned stuff..)

I saw Loose Women the other week and they were discussing this. They actually showed a worksheet that would be used by 5 year olds. It was a cartoon picture of a naked person (child I think) with body part names to match up including hand, leg, head and I can't remember exactly which but maybe penis (or one of the more 'intimate' parts). Anyway the work they actually showed, on the programme, that would be used for young children was clearly about children learning about thier body in a non-sexual way and they still had the hysterical debate about sexualising children far too young and 'what about thier innocence!'

It came across as really stupid to me but people will get on the bandwagon

I taught sex ed. in a catholic school and am Catholic (but was living with partner at the time).
It was awful (a) not really telling the students anything about the basics - they were 17/18 years.They knew the biology but not about the emotional aspects, commitment involved etc (b)just moralising about rights and wrongs of sex before marriage.

The girls were very mature and didn't ask too many awkward questions, but I felt that it wasn't sex education they were getting but a religious lesson.

imo many of my friends like me are Catholic but consider themselves a la Carte (no disrespect intended,btw)

I'm a teacher in Scotland where schools devide their own sex ed programme. To be honest most 5 years olds are taught about identifying parts of the body and relationships (family and friends). I haven't heard of a school that covers topics like sex before P6/7 (about 10 or so).

Personally I can't see what all the fuss is about - no sane person would be teaching a 5 year old the mechanics of having sex!!

Littlemonkey - i knew the 'mechanics' from about aged 4, and my parents are perfectly sane thank you

The most sensible commentary I've heard about this topic was from a 16 year old boy on the BBC1 Breakfast show today. Very sensible chap.

I was taught sex education in the last year of primary school and nobody is my secondary school was pg before the age of 17 afaik.

Well said sophrosyne, I said alomost exactly what you have earlier tonight.

I agree. I started a thread in primary topic saying how glad I was to come on here and not find a hysterical thread about this.

Poor, sensationalist news coverage IMHO. Shame on the BBC although I did think the 1 o'clock newsreader was trying to clarify almost putting words in the guests mouth who was rubbish at getting the point across. She (newsreader) said something like,
'but isn't this all about friendships and family relationships for a 5yr old?'

Noooonki..No offence. What I meant was within the education system. I agree that every family is different and some children are mature enough to deal with this at a young age. However take a class of 30 5 year olds and it becomes a dfferent matter!