___ITV "THIS MORNING"_____FRIDAY____HOW MUCH SEX EDUCATION SHOULD CHILDREN HAVE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS?????

[RTKangaMummy]

Tomorrow, {FRIDAY} Davina McCall is in talking about her controversial campaign to reform sex education in schools. Will telling our children the full monty make them want sex more, or less? Should sex education start at primary school? Davina says yes, what do you think? Call us now on 0870 333 05 50 or email us at [email protected]

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sex/being sexy seems to be part of day to day advertising now.

OK Frogs, I take your point and I'm going to bed now. I think it just winds me up that the adult world seems to do everything to rob children of their childhood. I really do not have a problem with children having their curiosity satisfied by an adult who is genuinely concerned for their well-being. It's just that so often these days I get the impression that adults have just given up and accepted that kids will get up to whatever, so we just have to pick up the pieces. I have enormous respect for the teachers who are, so obviously, trying to put sex education into a context of respectful relationships. I suppose my problem, really, is with those who exploit the young by sexualising them way too early in order to line their own pockets.
Goodnight all xx

My 4yo knows the mechanics of sex and reproduction already. It came up naturally in conversation and I just answered his questions, just as if he had asked about flowers growing or how rain is made. I don't think it has robebd him of his innocence - he is as innocent and childlike as he has always been. Instilling shame, fear, secrecy and a "hush, that's dirty" attitude - that destroys children's innocence IMO, not the straight facts delivered in a kindly and truthful way. As a result of him finding out how bodies work, we have very interesting conversations about relationships and families and the whole process of having children. He thinks the idea is fascinating and wonderful. Which it is.

We had sex education at primary school when I was in year 6 (we called it the 4th year then!). Don't see why it would be any later now - if anything it should be earlier as children now are apparently reaching puberty earlier.

I agree with the comment that children might respond better to hearing about this from a teacher than a parent.

I think a lot of parents want to have 'that talk' with their children but don't find the right time to do it. However, knowing they're going to be talking about it at school can spur them into talking about it at home too.

Apologies to DC for curt response last night - had rough day and the words 'sex' and 'primary' just acted like catalyst. I think some of the problem (certainly for me) is understanding exactly what is going to be taught rather than when. My DD is only 5 and already I am concerned about the number of sexual images that bombard her. I accept this is only going to get worse and it is totally right that she be properly equipped with the right information (whatever that should be) at the right time. But I do still think that we try to make them grow up quicker than they should.

But my point was WE did sex education at age 10/11 and it didn't make US grow up too quickly.

Lostme, to an extent, and with respect, what business is it of yours what sex ed your kids get ?
Would you feel qualified to judge the history syllabus, or judge which music they should sing ?
To me the purpose of any education is to prepare kids before they have to deal with it. DS has been taught road & water safety at 5, even though he never goes anywhere without an adult, but one day he will and I want him to be able to deal with potentially bad stuff with habits and knowledge gained at an age where the right response is a reflex, not blundering about.

I don't see sex as any different to road safety, and certainly we've not treated human reproduction as any more "uncomfortable" than nutrition.

I worry about the widespread idea that education should make parents "comfortable". The only issue I regard as acceptable is what is good for the kids.
This is not the first MN thread on sex ed in schools, yet I can't recall ever seeing one on teaching kids to be safe on roads.
Cars are one of the largest causes of death for kids, so why does it have such a low priority ?

To me the answer is that many parents feel "comfortable" with road safety, and feel no need to interfere with the school since they feel comfortable dealing with kids who say that running across a road is dodgy, yet fear having to squirm inside if a 7yo asks about condoms.

Of course how her children are educated is her business. She is their mother. They are not yet adults. Sex Education is different from a history lesson. I know that I would approach my DD in a diffrent manner than the clinical way sex ed was taught to me. I was lucky enough to have parents who cared enough to sit down with me and speak openly about what it involved and why it was important to abstain until I was ready for any possible outcomes of having sex and that when I did decide to do it why it was important for it to be in a loving, commited relationship. They also through in a speech about contraception for good measure. I just don't think a school can do it as well. Parents should have a say in how their children are educated. I dare say DC that if your child came home with a history lesson that claimed that Hitler was doing the right thing you might feel you have something to say about it.

Lostme, I think the earlier post by greenshoots sums up exactly what should be happening. Parents answering questions at children's levels as and when they ask. Sadly, not all parents are happy/comfortable with this. Therefore, schools have an important role to play.

If we leave it until they reach secondary school, they've already filled their heads with thoughts, gossip and hang-ups.

DC,whilst I agree with your overall arguement, I disagree that it has nothing to do with the parents. Good social and moral education (which includes sex ed) is always at its best when delivered with the understanding, support and co-operation of the parents.

my son is 13 and i wouldn't say he has any hang ups. it's the right age for him as i said earlier

No of course not all children will have hang-ups but many will.

It's about delivering appropriate information in apropriate language at an appropriate age. IMO, 13 is too late, most boys are already masturbating by then and have picked up all sorts of rumours from the playground.

I'm not saying Lostme shouldn't be told, but what useful input does the average parent have in changing what is taught ?
That's the topic of this thread.

I agree about this is best done with parental support, but I drew a parallel with road safety, which needs it just as much and is important.

Road safety necessarily tells kids scary things, that may upset them.
Do we see parents getting in a tizz about it ?
Not that I see.
Kids killed on roads is a scary number, so it's plausible that this isn't being done as well as it might, do we see TV programmes on this ?

I pick up a lot more emotional content about parental "discomfort" than the welfare of kids.

Also having had various conversations with sexually active women who have really bizarre misunderstandings, I am not at all sure that less sex education, done later is the way forward.

The programme's really interesting. Well worth a watch, IMO.

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DAVINA IS ON ITV1 AROUND 12 NOON

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IIRC I have seen the prog that Davina is going to talk about

There's a prog on C4 tonight at 9 (I think it's 9). Very interesting stuff.

I think most people in this country don't get anything like enough sex education.

HM it is 8.00 ch 4

yes I have seen it before

LET'S TALK SEX

It's been recut for prime time, RKM - some new stuff in it, I think.

that's a good analogy DC

Mine too (at age 6 and 5) have a pretty good idea of what goes on - from leading questions about making babies etc.

Of course sex ed should start in primary school (and I thought it did already but maybe I've got that wrong) - and homemama, I'm that parents opt to have their children taking out of the sex ed class on masturbation!

Education empowers children to make informed decisions and I'd far rather mine were given that education (through me and the school).

I also wonder, in sex education at school, whether they deal with homosexuality - mine understand that it's possible to have a loving relationship no matter which sex it is but I wonder whether this message is reinforced at school.

Isn't it the case that Christians managed to get in laws preventing almost any discussion of homosexuality in schools ?

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WATCH ITV1 NOW

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i have remembered it was a set of 3 progs on schools tv

watched it.

i think anybody who thinks that PSHE is going to re-educate outchildren in to being better parents to their children is quite frankly a sasquatch with clogs on.

i keep saying this and i wont stop - the government will not put decent parenting skills classes in place for all of society.

until we change the culture of our society that says its ok to have kids then ignore them for 18 years - NOTHING is going to change.

i resent wholeheartedly that our precious under resourced education system is parenting our children in our stead.