The Facts of Life......

[CheekyGirl]

My dd is 5.5 and in yr 1 at school.

Ds was born when she was 3.6 and she asked a few questions re. where babies came from. Basically, we just answered exactly what she asked, and so she learned that babies grew in the mummy's tummy from a seed from mummy and a seed from daddy. That's it. She hasn't asked any questions since this.

My problem is, I'm not really sure whether I should be 'raising' the subject with her and telling her things in a little more detail. I'm anxious not to tell her things she's not ready for, but I don't want her to hear things from school friends first. She's in a yr 1/2 split year group.

I really wanted to leave it to her to ask questions, which I would then answer as clearly as possible, but should I be instigating a discussion by now?

I don't want anything to become taboo, either.

Insights gratefully received.

personally I'd leave it until she asks again, they usually do sometime during this year or the next

Thanks, that's my 'gut feeling' but just worried in case a child at school tells her before she asks me.

MY 2 know that they grow from a seed from daddy and an egg from mummy. Dont know the technicalities of gettimg there. However they think know that baby grows in tummy but think they come out mummy's belly button. Sorry too technical to explain they are only 3 and 4. What book would explain it better?

I think she probably will ask if she wants to know more and it sounds like you are very open about it all so she likely knows all she needs to know for her age. As she gets older, there are now great books you can read together. My dd is almost 10 and we started last year reading together different sections of a book about puberty and other issues like crushes, bullying, body images etc. This year we read the sex section together and had a really long discussion about why I though teenage sex was too young. It went really well. My 8 year old son however, as soon as I started to read about puberty and boys went nuts ( thougt it was all gross) so I am waiting until he is older but will do it. I am like you, I want their first and best info to come from me. I was surprsied with my dd how much she is hearing at school.

Exactly, christie1 - Dd hasn't come back with any choice info from school, yet but I'm sure she will.

Any particular book suggestions?

to be honest, I just cruised the local library and reviewed a few but can't recall the names. I read them first then read them with her. But I did notice there are alot of books out there on this, in the library or book store and written for younger kids (with cartoon illustrations etc.) and basic explainations. Wish I could remember the name but we went over 2 or three to get some different perspectives. and like I said, read them over a few years, omitting the actual sexual intercourse material until she year (she is almost 10). You may want to try the library first, it's free then purchase once you find one you like. I remember hearing stuff around grade 3 that really upset me so I didn't want that to happen to her.

My ds8 came home the other day telling me he was "feeling gay today". Lol when i asked him what he meant he said "oh just happy". However i did feel the need to explain the other meaning to him then which i wasn't expecting to have to do just yet.
Did make me think whether we were keeping him too naive, but we do tell him whatever he asks.

but think they come out mummy's belly button

my 3 year old twins came to that conclusion - I just said - no not there - from the down there (pointing), they happily accepted that. They know the wee comes from there because I don't have a willy. No problem - all very matter of fact, and then the conversation drifted away on to something totally unrelated.