Sex Education

[anice]

We got this year's curriculum for DS's year 6 (age 10/11) class yesterday and its got "sex education" listed among the science topics they will do.

I want to tell DS about this myself, so that what he learns in school is never a suprise. He already knows a bit because we've gradually been letting him become aware since he was little. What he doesn't know yet is that making babies involves penetration. (Or put it another way, he knows they are caused by sex but he doesn't know exactly what sex is).

Does anyone know how much is taught in year 6?

Do they have a session for parents before?

In my experience what sex is would be taught in or even before Year 6. We also teach sex in the context of a loving relationship in year 6, i.e. That people have sex not just to make a baby but because it's nice!!

We always send out a leaflet with what we're teaching and when and also have a parents meeting before we start. Maybe your school does this as well.

They didn't say anything. It was just half way down a printed list of topics given to us parents. I didn't like to ask because there are parents who are ultra conservative about this sort of thing and I didn't want to be pigeon-holed as one of them (not that I am ultra-liberal about it either!).

I am hoping that either there will be further clarification in advance or that we are at least warned before it happens.

Maybe its just telling the children about the changes that are likely to happen in their bodies when puberty sets in?

Round here it seems to be puberty in year 5 then actual sex ed in year 7 (science-mechanics, PSHE the emotions) . I would ring the school and ask, explaining your reasoning, they will probably be grateful to have a sensible parent on board who is not afraid to teach their child about the facts of life.

Puberty has already started for some year 6 students, so I hope parents have already talked this through with them.

Our school website has the policies for various things on the web site. This includes sex education. It's worth a look on your school web site.

Ask to speak to the Headtacher or the teacher in charge of sex ed in your child's school. They will be happy to talk you through the way your child will be taught. It is possible they watch a DVD and you could take this home and watch so you are aware of the content. I wouldn't watch it with you rchild though, leave that to school.

There are good books on puberty and sex ed as well as loads of stuff on the Internet. You could use this as your indie to talk with your son.

I had to talk to my DD early in year 5 as she was starting puberty and I didn't want her starting her periods not knowing what was happening. I found a good website, waited till her brother was out the house and we chated through the content of the site.

The school will not think you are strange if you go in and talk to them, they willbe impressed that you care