At what age do you explain the birds and the bees

[couture1]

our 7 year old son has come home from school asking the meaning of 'phrases'he has picked up in the playground from older boys. Im very surprised I thought it would be at least another 2/3 years before this started. Dh said he does not want to expalin about oral sex yet he is too young. What are your thoughts?

I leave the birds and the bees to David Attenborough who does that sort of thing better.

But I have been explaining about human sexuality on and off since the dc's were old enough to speak at all. In small age-appropriate doses. Haven't really got to oral sex yet, even with the 12yo. Doesn't seem like the most essential part tbh. Though if they asked I suppose I would have to. Did explain to dd about impotence the other day (re: a book she was reading)

You start explaining as soon as they can talk and listen. It's a continuous process - as they develop they ask more questions. If he's asking you what oral sex is, then maybe you need to start with the non-oral sort first!

Mine bot had a pretty thorough understanding of basic human reproduction by the age of 7.

My thoughts are that when they start asking you, I shaould start giving the right answers but DH is dead against it yet. I dont know what to do..

None of mine have really asked yet (eldest is about to turn 8!).
I was going to do the 'wait til the ask and answer honestly' thing, but there have not been to mant questions.
We have discussed that the woman has an egg, that her partner has a seed and when they get together it turns into a baby and if not the woman bleeds. they have not asked how they het together!
I think i may need to sit my eldest down at some time soon.

I agree with you op - after all the other kids will tell them all sorts of rubbish and they need the proper facts. But oral sex - that's a tough one - but if other kids are giving this information I would feel compelled to deal with it.

DD (3) is fascinated with pregnancy/birth but we haven't done anything about conception yet. If she doesn't ask directly I will probably introduce the topic when she's 8. That's what my mum did. Whe was a scary fruitloop in many ways but she was right in this instance and she was reacting against her own upbringing - she didn't know where babies came from until she was 18 .

DS1 (9) and DS2 (7) are coming home with all sorts of words. The thing is that neither they nor their friends have a clue what they mean. They just say them for shock value.

Agree with cory and seeker we are making small age appropriate steps to explaining how good and loving human sexual relationships work. The physical stuff they will no doubt hear at school but if they ask then I will talk to them.

couture1 - how does your dh think you ought to respond to questions like this?