What age should kids learn about different sexual orientations?

[unpredictablemum]

I’ve been categorised as a closed minded parent for saying a 4 year old is too young to understand and that they might be confused by it, I’m now wondering if I am in the wrong? And most importantly to clarify I have absolutely nothing against people with different sexual orientations.
Back story is I was incorrectly told that the new superman is bisexual (it's actually a new character, superman's son) and as my son loves superhero's I expressed that my son might be confused if his favourite superhero started kissing men all of a sudden, is that not a fair comment 🤷‍♀️

Don't overthink Superman. He's defying the laws of nature by flying through the sky after all.

Also a good point. Surely a child isn’t going to be confused that the flying alien superhero from planet krypton might kiss a man. I mean is it even a homosexual relationship? Superman isn’t even a man, he isn’t human, he’s an extra-terrestrial.

@Kanaloa

Don't overthink Superman. He's defying the laws of nature by flying through the sky after all.

Also a good point. Surely a child isn’t going to be confused that the flying alien superhero from planet krypton might kiss a man. I mean is it even a homosexual relationship? Superman isn’t even a man, he isn’t human, he’s an extra-terrestrial.

You make a very good point there, never thought about it like that

From as young as possible. I've got loads of gay family members and friends so I've just always told them that anyone can love whoever they like. Women can marry women, men can marry men and women can marry men. They have always accepted it and never questioned it because they've never learned different.

No age is too young.

I've never really had the convseration with ds3. My aunt is gay and lives with her partner, ds has never asked and only commented that they are best friends (he also says mummy and daddy are best friends).

Occasionally if a comment is made about someone not having a mummy/daddy I'll reel off that families are different and some people have both, some have one and some have two mummies or daddies, he's never queried this.

I don't think it's so much that they need to learn it's a thing, it's just how it is.

@TheCheeseBadge

My 3 year old son has always been capable of understanding that he has 2 mums. HTH.

That's unnecessarily aggressive. The op wasn't being rude.

If you talk about different sexual orientations and how families look different from a young age then they growing up knowing this is normal. I don’t really see the issue. It’s not hard for a 4 year old to grasp unless you make it a thing.

Please don’t use the word “orientation”. That implies a choice. It’s not a choice, it’s how people are made. It’s their sexuality. And to echo everyone else it isn’t a big deal unless you make it so. People love people is all you need to teach your child.

What does it matter if its confusing? That's where learning happens.
Child: I'm confused. Why is superman kissing a man?
Parent: some men like kissing women, some men like kissing men.
Child: oh OK, can I have some ice cream

Sorry to offend but nature intends to reproduce in order for the species to survive, that is science and fact.
As the human race we have indeed evolved from that to anything goes and I would never judge anyone on who they want or decide to be but science is still science..,, I'm going to shit up now as I'm digging a hole for myself here and I'm sorry if I have offended anyone.

Ah, so the entire thread was just for you to air your homophobic views.

Most 4 year olds so nursery/reception age learn about it. They learn about different family set ups , mum and dad, two mums,two dads, adopted, living with grandparents, only one parent etc. At DD's school it was called Different families same love if I remember correctly.

@Simonjt

*Sorry to offend but nature intends to reproduce in order for the species to survive, that is science and fact. As the human race we have indeed evolved from that to anything goes and I would never judge anyone on who they want or decide to be but science is still science..,, I'm going to shit up now as I'm digging a hole for myself here and I'm sorry if I have offended anyone.*

Ah, so the entire thread was just for you to air your homophobic views.

Already crossed this bridge and discussed, please see post from clumpingnambooisalie

Any age is appropriate as long as it's 'age-appropriate'. I've always been very open and matter of fact with my kids. They have a gay aunty and friends with gay parents. It's just the variety of life.

Ah. Should have RTFT I see.

Surely if you are aware your upbringing may have led to you having views which you now know are wrong that should make it even more important to ensure that your child’s upbringing is different so he doesn’t have to learn to accept people as they are it just comes naturally?

People aren’t born homophobic they learn it.

4 is not too young to say some men love women, some men love men and some men love both. (Love obviously meaning romantic love) Why is it confusing ? Romantic love is an abstract concept for a child so saying it's something that each individual works out when they are much older is absolutely fine.

They probably get taught about it on the first day of nursery anyway

If you are matter of fact and say some men have girlfriends and some men have boyfriends then your son will learn it's no big deal. It's not a big sit down reveal.

Love is love.

@Sirzy

Surely if you are aware your upbringing may have led to you having views which you now know are wrong that should make it even more important to ensure that your child’s upbringing is different so he doesn’t have to learn to accept people as they are it just comes naturally?

People aren’t born homophobic they learn it.

Yes agree but I didn't know if it was confusing for a child to come across it if they have never seen it before. I'm now aware that it's only confusing if I make confusing for them, parenting lesson learnt

Birth

Kids are never too young to understand the idea of families of different kinds. That is all you start with.

The OP started off by describing himosexuality as "taboo" and has gone on to say gay people are unnatural.

Of course they are being rude. And incredibly homophobic, despite their protestations of "just wanting to learn". And apparently their best friend/ uncle/ neighbours cat are LGBT but they were "brought up straight" so it's ok for them to be rude and homophobic?

Would it be ok to be racist because as a child you only ever met white people?

Post above should have quoted @madisonbridges chastising me for being rude.

@Shelby1981

Sorry to offend but nature intends to reproduce in order for the species to survive, that is science and fact. * * Err. Homosexuality has been documented in over 450 species.

It's only judged in one 🤷🏻‍♀️

TBF, you don't know what some dolphins judge each other on...unless you do?!

I'm bisexual but we never talk about sexual orientation in our house as it's not needed. I'm happily married to a man so DS doesn't need to know what bodies I am sexually attracted to.
He does know that his friend has 2 mums. He knows some of his friends don't have a mums or dads. He knows that many of his friends don't have grandparents. He knows that he doesn't have a sibling but his friends do. It just is what it is.
No need to make a thing of it. No need to hide gay people from your child. They are just people at the end of the day.