Complete Sex Education Handbook - Discussing Sex with Children Aged 2-12 in an Easy Way

Author: Bobinkan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: Awarded the Best Parenting Book Award by Independent Publishing Group in 2003 and ranked on the New York Times Best Seller List for that year. When your preschooler claims he wants to marry you and will grow up to be a girl; when your 6-year-old son asks if he can watch you have sex; when your 8-year-old daughter says she saw two classmates kissing and they're going to have babies; when your 11-year-old child refuses to talk about anything, what should you do as a parent? Scold? Avoid the topic? Pretend to be indifferent? Don't worry! The Complete Sex Education Handbook: Talking About Sex with Kids Aged 2-12 will be your best helper. From now on, you can confidently face and scientifically answer all your child's questions about sex!
· Development of Gender Differences: The Strong Man Meets Barbie
Before infants can fully understand the physiological differences between boys and girls, they begin to notice the role differences between the two genders in social settings and can thus distinguish between them. Most three-year-olds can clearly tell you who are girls and who are boys. Their distinctions might even include a long list of representatives that would leave parents stunned.
Children are not born naturally able to clearly distinguish between gender roles. Through their experiences in the world and their observations of the people around them, they form impressions: what boys should do and what girls should do.
When infants imitate the behavior of people of the same gender, they receive positive reinforcement. In other words, if your preschooler plays with blocks, he will receive positive responses from adults, but if he plays with dolls, he will be ridiculed and rejected.
Think about the birthday gifts you choose for children. If the recipient is a boy, would you think it's more appropriate to give a Barbie doll than a toy truck? Most people would instinctively exclude Barbie dolls. They wouldn't let their sons play with dolls, nor would they give boys toys meant for girls. Similarly, they wouldn't give boys' toys to girls.
This is how gender is distinguished based on rigid and fixed stereotypes. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, we do this. Children learn unconsciously through osmosis.
When you talk about specific values, make sure your words and actions align. For example, if you've said that both fathers and mothers should share household chores and take care of children, you must follow through. Children see things as they are.
If you're watching TV or reading with your child, or if you notice inappropriate gender-related behavior in daily life, immediately explain it to your child and, at the next opportunity, teach them by example.
When trying to instill the values you think are appropriate in children, don't just talk—act. Timely and consistent correction is crucial. It may even be more important than later explaining who has a penis and who doesn't.