The ideal age for when to start teaching children about sex and fertility is at three years old. If this might seem surprising, the recommendation actually comes from the experts. They believe that if parents begin sex education among their kids at young age, then it would help mitigate the risks of unintended parenthood later on.
Participants at a recent Fertility Health Summit in the U.K. discussed the issue of sex education in children and underscored why early reproductive health knowledge is important.
At age three, kids begin to ask about their anatomy. As it turns out, this would make it a good opportunity to introduce sex and fertility.
Sex Education In Children: Boys And Their Penis
"I have two boys...they asked about their penises very early," said Professor Joyce Harper, an expert on embryology, IVF and reproductive genetics, per The Argus. "All boys are obsessed with their penis, so it's a good time, as a parent, to follow that on," she added.
Introducing the concept of where babies come from can be taught among three-year-olds through games and other engaging ways. The experts pointed out that this has been working in countries like Sweden. As a result, their teen birth rate is low.
Sex Education In Children: Lowering Teen Birth Rates
Per The Guardian, the rate of girls giving birth in Sweden, from the ages of 15 to 19, is at 5.2 births per 1,000 women. The number is considerably higher in the United Kingdom, at 19.7 births per 1,000 women.
In the United States, the teen birth rate is at 24.2 births per 1,000 women, per the Department of Health & Human Services. The experts said that a lack of knowledge about sex and fertility is a huge factor to why this is happening.
Sex Education In Children In The Internet Age
Additionally, Professor Harper pointed out that sex education in children should be taken advantage on the internet, particularly in platforms like social media and YouTube. However, she also acknowledged the problems this could bring.
"There is some really bad information on social media, apps and other digital forums," Harper said. "We have to appreciate how young people communicate and gain information," she added, insinuating that older generations must tap into the children's culture to effectively relay the importance of sex education.
Do you support the idea of teaching sex early? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
