Excellent Resources for Sexuality Education for Young People
Having conversations with kids about birds and bees is not something that comes naturally easy. To do so well, one must put in time and effort into practice. The good news is that many nations now provide early childhood education programs that address sexuality.
Parents who are interested in learning more about the subject now have more options than ever before for where to get helpful information. We live in an age where information is readily available and public consciousness is consistently elevated.
Sexual education books are one resource that can help parents have that conversation with their kids. Numerous children's books are available for sale that teach sexuality to young readers. In this post, we present five of the greatest books on sexual education for children to read together so that you can make an informed decision.
Should Young People Be Required to Take a Sex Education Class?
The topic of how to best teach young people about sexuality has been hotly contested for decades. Some people think that teaching children about sexuality too early may lead to them developing sexually as teenagers, and that it also exposes kids to content that is inappropriate for their age. But the data contradict that theory.
Comprehensive sexual education (CSE) reduces the occurrence of unintended pregnancies and the spread of STDs, as reported in an article published in Elsevier. It helps young people develop healthier relationships while also serving as an excellent tool for empowering girls and other underrepresented groups.
You may learn more about UNESCO's international technical guidance on sexuality education if you're interested.
What Characteristics Do an Effective Sexual Education Text Have?
The subject of sex is fraught. Even a small misstep can have far-reaching consequences for children. For this reason, it's important to use caution while selecting books for children. Some of the features to keep an eye out for are as follows.
In other words, it makes use of language that is not exclusive.
To speak in an inclusive manner is to refrain from using words or phrases that could be construed as sexist, racist, or otherwise offensive or discriminatory.
A excellent sexual education book uses non-discriminatory wording so as not to foster bias in its young readers.
Rather than making others feel bad about themselves,
The goal of sexual education is to provide a judgment-free zone for kids to open up and share their thoughts and feelings. While it is important to teach kids right from wrong, it is never appropriate to shame them. A excellent sexual education book can help kids feel good about themselves and learn to appreciate other people's differences.
Indeed, It's Fascinating
Young minds are easily diverted. They are quick to throw anything away if it doesn't pique their interest. The best sexual education books don't follow any particular pedagogical model. Instead, it has pictures, jokes, rhymes, or a fun story in it to keep kids interested and reading.
Acceptable for Children of That Age
The National Health Service suggests beginning discussions about sexuality and romantic partnerships at any age. However, the message delivered to a young kid, a teenager, or an adult is different from that delivered to an older person. That doesn't mean you have to sugarcoat the truth or hide things from your kid. Sentences should be crafted with their age in mind, though.
Check in with your kid after the conversation to see if they retained any of the information you shared. Wait a few of years to talk to them about it if you think they are too young to understand something now.
A quality sexual education book instructs young readers on appropriate sexual behavior. You can't use it to teach your kids your particular set of morals and ethics, and it won't force them to adopt your way of life.
Top Five Books About Sexuality
We suggest the following five books for youth sex education:
In Sex Is a Four Letter Word, written by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth,
Sexuality, gender diversity, and limits are just some of the topics covered in this award-winning1 book. The book takes on a lighthearted tone that will keep preteens engaged.
Wow, You're Amazing by Gail Saltz
In this book, young readers will learn all about the reproductive system and how a baby is born. However, it just provides a broad outline of how conception occurs and avoids discussing sexual activity. An intriguing aspect of this book is its discussion on masturbation.
Gina Loveless, "Puberty Is Gross but Also Really Awesome."
There are two main sections to this book. As a starting point, it describes various human anatomy components. The book then moves on to topics that any adolescent should be familiar with, such as sexuality, diet, mental health, etc.
This book also addresses taboo topics like pubic hair and sweating, two of the many bodily changes that people go through and are sometimes quick to criticize.
The graphic novel Wait, What? : A Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up by Heather Corinna and Isabella Rotman
The graphic novel's author is the brains behind the popular website scarleteen.com, and it follows the lives of five teens from different backgrounds. It acts as a map for tales including issues of sexuality, gender, and interpersonal connections. All teenagers and preteens will enjoy this book.
In Cory Silverberg's What Makes a Baby, the author explores the factors that contribute to the conception of a human
This work stands out because of its flawless implementation of inclusive language. People are classified not as male or female but rather as uterine or vaginal. This book teaches children that there is great diversity in the world's families. However, sexual encounters are not discussed here.
Stay with me, I've got more to tell you!
We recommend these books as the best resources for sexual health so that your child can grow up to make wise choices. However, there is more to sex education than just textbooks.
One of the benefits of having this discussion with your kid is that it may be continued at regular intervals. Therefore, you will have plenty of opportunities to instruct them. However, this does need some patience on your part. Persons have the potential to make blunders or hunt for answers in the wrong places.
With so much information available online, it's not surprising that kids sometimes discover adult-oriented sites like pornographic ones by accident. You may use parental control applications to make sure your youngster is getting a good sexual education. As a parent, you may monitor your child's online activities with the Safes app. You may also control what kinds of apps and websites they can use, limiting or blocking access as needed. You may protect your child's sexual education from being derailed by erroneous information for a little monthly cost.