Learning more about sexual health is one of the most important things that you can do that have the potential to uplift your overall health. Everyone should learn more about it and start applying the knowledge. However, the topic gets complicated when you take children into the equation. There are hundreds of very important questions that come up into play here. At what age should your child be when the two of you will talk about sexual health? Should you even talk to your child about sexual health or just wait for him or her to find out on her own? Or should you hire someone else to do the talking since it’s inconvenient for parents and their children to talk about sex?
Well, the truth is that there are no clear-cut answers to these questions. They need to be answered on an individual basis. As a parent, it’s your job to do the talking. However, if you feel that you’re not very educated on the subject – then you can always hire a professional to do the talking for you. There are many experts in sexual health and sexual education. Sexual education is even a subject taught in many schools around the world. The last one is a vigorously debated question – if there should be sex education in schools – and it’s a prime example of the point that there are no clear-cut answers to these questions.
In all cases, as a parent, you will need to closely monitor the psychological and physical growth of your child. If you’re careful enough, then you will be able to see the first inklings of your child’s sexuality. This typically happens when puberty hits – or near it. There are exceptions though and, again, it’s your job as a parent to detect these things.
Once you start to see that your child or teenaged kid shows some signs of developing sexuality – now may be the time to act. Of course, you should always communicate in a clear way. Always make sure that you talk in the language of your child. Children are much smarter than people typically give them credit for. If you pack the message properly – then your child will most likely understand it.
And there are several important things that you will need to tell your child about the importance of sexual health. First of all – you can try with the “controversy-free” parts, like the importance of hygiene of the sexual organs. This is a very important thing that everyone should pay attention to for the purpose to maintain the sexual health. And then you can delve a bit deeper into the subject – like the origins of the sexual feelings of your child and the implications of having sex and of the ways in which people can have safe sex. To be fair, these are subjects that your child won’t need in the near future, so, it’s up to you to determine the need for communicating them to him or her. This is knowledge that will typically come in handy later on in life. But it doesn’t hurt to know it earlier.
It’s a touchy subject and most people have their own set of opinions about it. Make sure that you really ponder this subject deep before taking any action. If you’re confused and doubtful – then you can always consult a professional and ask for an advice. The core most important thing to be aware of is that your child will have to one day learn about the importance of sexual health. It’s up to you to determine the time and the method for this education.
Read More: How to talk to your kids about sex: An age-by-age guide