by Jessi Michaels

Created on: September 20, 2009

By the time arrives for children to have the "talk" their heads are already filled with misinformation. This information is transmitted through the media, older peers, siblings and classmates. So how do you go about making sure you set the record straight? Just like many debatable topics this one too is not either black or white. The fact is that where your child learns about sex is less important than who is teaching them.

Home:

Not all children have access to parental figures that are in a position to clearly inform a child about sex. There are many reasons for this but the facts remain the same. Every child needs to not only hear about sex from a responsible and knowledgeable adult, they need to feel comfortable asking questions. If conditions at home offer a sense of safety and openness children will be more likely to come to an adult and ask them about their concerns, misunderstandings or fears. Unfortunately,it is not always a home environment that provides such a place for a child. Some families find talk about sex taboo still others provide little or no information to their children. In this case children will look towards their peers and that is not where we want them searching.

School:

School sex education classes have changed through the years and for the better. They are more open and down to earth about the realities teens are facing in their world. The school possesses a more objective position in their approach to teaching sex education than a parent often does. This is totally understandable. Sometimes that detachment makes it easier for children to absorb and process information and to seek out a trustworthy educator for questions they cannot get answered at home.

The Partnership:

The best avenue for information on sex ideally would come from family first and school asadded reinforcement. Families have their own belief systems and want their children to learn about sex as their culture or religion dictates. School does allow for opting out of sex education for this reason but that is not necessarily best for the child. Knowledge is a powerful tool and access to knowledge is amongst the most important gift we can offer children. Discuss with your child what they arelearning in school and feel free to discuss with educators concerns you may have on any topic. Remember your goals are the same. Both home and school should always hold the child's best interest before anything else. As a team, students can be provided with the facts that they need to keep them safe and responsible.

At home talk to your child lovingly and openly. Reinforce that they can always come to you for help or to answer any questions without fear of retribution. Feel free yourself to understand the sexual education curriculum, which is public information and address any questions you might have before or during sex education classes are taught. Those children who are blessed with loving parental figures and safe homes will have an upper hand but never forget that all children to not have this luxury. The child who has been neglected in the area ofsex education may be the one your child has a relationship with, it is food for thought. The best way to make sure children are making safe choices is to make sure they are all properly informed. In many cases it is school that can provide that or would you rather have them learn it in the street?

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