What age is proper to start educating kids about sex?

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African parents never talk about sex education unless a teenage girl gets pregnant out of wedlock. Then you will hear the most crazy of sermons in the name of sex education. I heard a girl say that her mother told her that if she allow a boy touch her, she will end up becoming pregnant and they will drive her out of the house. What kind of touch, they will never explain. They live your little mind to connect the dots.

Sex education is one subject that is rarely discussed by parents. Those who attempt to, do not handle the subject well enough. They either fill the child's head with misconceptions that are products of fear. Fear that the child would not be morally upright. Some are either ignorant or they are not aware that they ought to teach the child or too embarrassed to mention sexual organs. When teenagers begin asking questions about Sex, their parents think that the child must have started indulging in sexual acts.

What is Sex education? It is informing or bringing the correct awareness of sexuality to a person. From sexual organs, functions, right and wrong touches in relation to body parts and intimacy. When is the right time to start educating a child about Sex? Sex education should be taught in several stages of a child's life. From infancy through early childhood, to teenage years and adulthood. It should begin from childhood. When the child starts learning to speak and mention parts of the body. Give as much information as the child can process per time. Keep it interesting and simple enough for them to assimilate.

From school age, the child can begin to learn functions of body parts. When children begin asking questions, give them enough correct answers to quench their curiosity. Because if they are not satisfied with the answers you provide, they would seek other places to learn. They might fall into the hands of wrong people who could explore their innocence. At this stage, they should know what touches are appropriate. They should know what body parts are private and which are public. Encourage them to report to you if anyone outside should touch their private parts. This should include house helps and relatives too. I've heard cases where children were violated by family relations and nannies.

When the child becomes a teenager. There's so much the child can understand and comprehend at this stage. Especially as the child is already an adolescent preparing for adulthood. You as a parent can start teaching the child what is wrong and right intimacy. What touches are right and wrong. This would give the teen enough information to live by. When teens start asking questions about Sex, this is an opportunity to tell them all they need to know.

As the child become an adult, you can help the child through relationships by guiding the child. Letting him/ her know what areas to Focus on in relationship with the opposite Sex. You can teach the adult to know what is most important trait to look out for in an opposite Sex in the context of marriage. By so doing, you must have fully moulded the child to become a complete adult,who is well informed. The child can trust you with their secrets if you are open and approachable. If you can listen without blaming them or being too critical and judgmental.

Sex education is not a subject that should be avoided. As a parent, if you fail to teach your children, the child would still learn however, from the wrong sources and more importantly the wrong things. After all, parents don't spend 24/7 with their children. Some are even too busy to notice changes in their child's life. They are busy in pursuit of career and money. They even insist they are doing it for the child. They forget that the child is not just a body to be fed and clothed. They are more interested in the child's academic performance than emotional intelligence. A child is a human comprising of many aspects. The physical, spiritual, mental, emotional and social needs of a child needs to be balanced with support from parents. 21st century parents and parents to be have to start taking clues now to learn and live up to their responsibilities as parents.