, sexuality educators say it’s that more parents are thinking about how to have constructive conversations with their kids about sex.
“People say that they’ll lose their innocence if we tell them too young, but that implies learning about human sexuality is wrong, shameful, harmful, bad or taboo. In fact, they’ll lose their innocence if something bad happens to them that they didn’t want to happen, and actually giving them information decreases shame and guilt about their bodies and how they feel.
“Parents can often be concerned about having the right answer, and then they might not end up saying anything at all. But that’s when children might learn through other sources of information, such as in the playground or the internet.”If the conversation hasn’t already gone there, children are usually ready for more detail about anatomy and reproduction by later primary school.
“They want to go beyond biology and reproduction, into topics including gender, sexual diversity, masturbation, pleasure, how to talk to sexual partners and how to talk about consent.”aged between 16 and 17 have experienced some form of unwanted sexual behaviour towards them in the past 12 months.