At what age would you have "the Talk"?

[Geekgirlmum]

Our DD is 11 and starting secondary school in September. She is really innocent and naive. My husband and I are really conflicted about whether or not to explain about sex before she starts school. At what age did you have the sex talk with your child?

PS my parents never had the talk with me. DH and I want to be open with her, but are not sure when and how to do it.

My DS (9) has just come back from cub camp...He told me that some of the older boys were talking about sex...I said did you know what they meant.he said no..I said did you ask he said no..I said why..He said he didn't want to know.. He asked just over a year ago. He was told about egg sperm, how boys don't make spern till older but we didn't do the mechanics.. So at his age I will answer anything but he doesn't seem to want to talk about it right now..
However if he was going to high school I would definitely want him to hear it from me not a load of high school kids..

I agree about the not a big talk but drip , drip over the holidays. I would like my DS to understand the love side of it not just the mechanics.

Ds has known the basics from about 6. He was still a child . Information doesn't stop children being children.