(RxWiki News) Four-year-old Donny asked his dad, "What is a girl's penis called?" His father replied saying, "Donny, you can never say this word, but it is called a vagina."
30 minutes later Donny's twin brother Sean asked Dad the same question. Donny had to interrupt Sean and say, "Don't ask. It's some Spanish word and you can't say it anyway!"
Finding natural, positive moments is important when approaching sex talks with children. Medical researchers suggest innocent questions should become teachable moments and a great opportunity to build life-long memories with children.
"Answer your children's sex questions with positive frankness."
Patricia J. Sulak, MD, director of Scott & White’s sex education program understands that learning to answer our children’s questions about sex may sometimes make parents uncomfortable. Sexual health questions are great opportunities to help children start developing a healthy attitude towards sex.
Sulak encourages parents to answer the sexual questions directly. Children only want a simple answer and the exchange is possibly more difficult for the parents than their children. Remind the children that sex is a really great thing, but it is also an adult thing. Adult situations have adult consequences which children are not equipped to handle.
Sulak also warns that things on the internet regarding sex present an unhealthy position to our children. She also suggests that you get to your children before the internet gets to them regarding sexual attitudes. Sulak believes you need to get to your child before the world gets to them.
In closing, Sulak encourages parents to educate themselves regarding sexually healthy attitudes. Scott & White has many resources including the Worth the Wait sex-ed program, that sponsors community talks from physicians and medical students volunteers.
“It’s really important that parents know as much as possible about this topic,” Dr. Sulak said. “Scott & White has a lot of resources. In fact, the Scott & White Worth The Wait sex-ed program has senior staff physicians, residents and medical student volunteers.
