Sex Ed..For Our Kids!
Providing age appropriate sexual and reproductive education
It’s not as easy as it sounds!
I am a pelvic health physical therapist, talking to my kids about reproductive and sexual health should be easy right? Not so much.
Story time
My 3 yo: Mom what is that on the wall? (points to antiquated tampon box)
Me: Well, honey. You are a woman and your body is amazing. When you get older every month(ish) you will have a menstrual bleed…cut off by a my 3 yo yelling and crying
My 3 yo: screaming “Nooooooooooo, I don’t want to bleed. Nooooooooo”
Well that did not go as planned. Husband rolls his eyes at me.
Husband: Nicely done.
Yeah, my adult clinical brain tends to go to adult words and facts totally forgetting what a 3 yo can developmentally handle. She was and still is terrified of blood, cuts, and associates blood with pain. Of course, the idea of bleeding every month would be terrifying.
I want to be open and I want to educate my kids about all things related to her body and sexual health, but I don’t always know the right words. Thankfully there are some amazing humans out there providing this type of education so we can do it better than I did with my now 4.5 year old.
This morning I multi-tasked (and failed at that too because no one can multi-task). I was out with the kids watching Eagle (Tall ship that the Coast Guard Academy cadets learn to sail) pull in and while watching a talk by Dr. Rachel Rubin (Urologist who specializes in sexual medicine), DNP Andrea Martin (Sexual medicine nurse practitioner), and Dr. Carrie Leff (Pediatrician and sexual health educator). The talk was the cats pajamas and it provided me with some great insights and more importantly resources.
I will share one tip here and then just leave you with loads of great resources. What should I call genitals with my kids? Yes I use the right words penis, vulva, and vagina, but the word genitals never seems right. I don’t want to call them private parts because that sounds like something that is a secret. Dr. Carrie Leff blew my mind with this simple term “personal parts.” Why on earth had I not thought of that. I have no reaction to that word. They are your personal parts. Love it! The talk was filled with lots of gems like that and most importantly resources. I will list a few of these great resources here. You can also find a recording of the talk here:
You tube Talking to Your Kids about Sex
Books:
What makes a baby by Cory Silverberg
Its not the stork by Robbie Harris
The family book by Todd Parr
Who has what by Robbie Harris
Website
Amaze jr
Resources for parents looking to communicate openly and honestly about puberty, reproduction, relationships, sex and sexuality
Instagram accounts to follow for good sexual health education
@teenhealthdoc
@drcarrieleff
@seicus
@lisadamour
@sexpositivefamilies
@turningteen
@amazeparents
@therealemilyroach
