| A
female
age
41-50,
anonymous
writes: 3 days ago my 7 year old daughter came to my house asking me about why guys can only wear condoms, she was too curious to know more about sex and the male genital. I was shocked how she knew the word condom, from who and why she is asking me this question. I asked her who told her about the condoms, she told me their teacher gave a lesson to talk about how to have safe sex. I was very surprised and i had to make sure what else the teacher told them. I went to the school and told the teacher why would she tell 7 years old kids about safe sex or to even bring up a topic like that. The teacher told me she was only raising awareness of safe sex. I was furious because those are only kids and they dont need to know NOW about those kind of topics. Yes my daughter at the end will end up knowing what does those things means, but she is only 7 years and just an innocent girl.Shall i report this teacher to the headmaster or am i overreacting?
View related questions:
condom Reply to this Question
Share |
Fancy yourself as an agony aunt? Add your answer to this question! A
male
reader, Fatherly Advice  + ♥, writes (2 May 2018):
 Thanks for bringing up the topic. I volunteer with 8 year olds. I'm often surprised by what they understand and ask questions about. They are smarter than you think. It's amazing what they can learn and do.
Your question and the responses have helped me to plan a Lesson on another sensitive topic for my group. The key items I'm seeing here are:
Don't surprise the parents. Ask them first.
Use a certified lesson plan.
Make sure it is age appropriate.
Don't make it scary.
A
female
reader, Andie's Thoughts  +, writes (2 May 2018):
 I believe parents should be notified of a sex education lesson coming up, but not told when, as some will remove their children from the classes even when they're teenagers. I went to a catholic school that only taught abstinence and quite a few in my class ended up with one or two babies before age 20!
Sex Ed classes are often the only time girls and boys learn about their bodies and puberty - something that frequently starts as young as 7 or 8.
It's unfortunate that condoms were covered in the lesson, but the majority of the lesson would have been relevant to them now or in the near future. It's sad, but lots of children aren't taught about their bodies, unless the teachers do it. That lesson may have saved one or two from an awful lot of confusion or even given one the courage to speak up against an abuser now or in the future.
Your child will likely forget soon enough, if you don't make a big deal of it.
...............................
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (2 May 2018): I think the teacher should have taught it in a more age appropriate way.But sadly yes it needs to be done.My niece got her peroid in second grade.When she was in fifth grade there was a girl who was pregnant.Kids are starting sooner than ever with the sex nowdays.In middle school my girls were on the pill.I educated them about everything.When they were in high school there was a family of five girls. The parents were religious and taught them just say no to sex.Never taught them safe sex or about STD.Every single one of them got pregnant in high school.Sometimes I think I did too good of a job because my youngest is 25 married and no grandbabies yet.sigh.
...............................
A
female
reader, Dionee'  +, writes (2 May 2018):
 Here is my take on the situation:
I believe in sex ed for kids but only for kids of a certain age (about 10 for instance) because of when puberty has a greater chance of striking. My problem is that, for a 7 year old it's a bit much. Mainly because they are unable to comprehend the science behind sex and all the intricate details. Yes there are girls who get their period at 8 for example and for this reason, that's probably why schools have taken initiative to introduce it to kids younger and younger every year. So from that perspective, I get it. The only problem is, why aren't parents notified of what the plan for sex ed is or whether or not there will be sex ed at all? because there will be a lot of conservative parents who will not agree with this being spoken about to their 7 year olds and I think that those parents should have a say in the matter. Schools are making decisions and not consulting parents which is a big problem. There should be open communication. Just because the world is more westernised, it doesn't mean that every parent should be forced to be. It's a respect thing for me. There are different cultures to consider, a lot being quite conservative so it's disrespectful for those parents to have their kids being taught things that are deemed necessary in today's world when their cultures teach something different. It IS necessary but it should be done in a respectful way. In other words; parents should be consulted.
...............................
A
female
reader, Aunty BimBim  +, writes (2 May 2018):
 I've got grandchildren. I was raised in a fairly typical post war rural environment .... everything was taboo. My mother told me to never let anybody touch me "there" so when a friend of the family did I never told anybody because I thought it was my fault. I would have been aged around 3.
That was about the extent of my sex education from my mother, I picked the rest up through various means, and most of it was wrong.
Growing older, into my teens, I knew some girls didn't see the local town doctor but instead opted for the one in the next town, an hour's drive away. It wasn't until I was one of the many girls who became pregnant before I was 20 that I learnt the reason those other girls travelled was that the local pharmacist refused to fill prevention prescriptions to unmarried girls.
Talking to my own children was uncomfortable but I was determined they would not be as ignorant as I was, I resorted to books specifically written for younger children, and honestly answered any questions that were asked. Keeping it clinical helped.
Children these days are exposed to so much more than we were, sex is everywhere and some parents just have no boundaries .... they don't care when or where they watch the X rated movies and some video games are also very sexually driven.
My feelings about sex education in schools is that they are picking up the slack, and as long as what is being taught is part of a national curriculum (so passed through a system of checks and double checks) I would have to say I am more for it than against it.
...............................
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (2 May 2018): It's because kids know more and more thanks to all this technology. Just tell the school you will talk to her when you feel she's ready but please do the research
...............................
A
male
reader, TylerSage +, writes (2 May 2018):
 Innocence doesn't last forever. Puberty can start as easily as 6 years old in children. The truth shouldn't be punished simply because it makes one uncomfortable or threatens their ego.The children of today are like super computers. Many of then are just as smart as adults. Don't underestimate them.Regardless of what a parent tells their child they are NOT obligated to listen, they are their own person and free to do as they please. The most we as adults can do when it comes to sex is guide and prepare children with the facts for staying safe during the act as well as informing them of the consequences. Times are changing and soon children discussing sex won't be much of a big deal anymore.Her innocence is still very much intact it's just that her knowledge has expanded.All the best.
...............................
A
female
reader, Andie's Thoughts +, writes (1 May 2018):
Hang on - most 7 year olds get the "where do babies come from?" topic in Western countries. Why can't they know the medical things?Did you know som 12 year olds have sex? It's a horrible thought, but 10+ year olds often end up talking about it at school - whether it's in a lesson or not. Children are exposed to it by society at a much younger age and knowing about safety isn't a bad thing - it's hardly saying "go out there and do it".Unfortunately, many young children who get groomed by an adult end up not knowing what is happening to them, so they don't know how to report it to family or police. Sometimes just "these are private areas for you only until you're older" works, but it doesn't work for a large number of kids who never knew what sex was and that it's what they were being told to do.People often say "shouldn't learn about sex or LGBT people until they're older". Both are things they're exposed to in this world and shouldn't be hidden, but explained in clinical, age-appropriate ways. We learnt on the school yard before 12 and it was not a good education.
...............................
A
reader, anonymous, writes (1 May 2018): It was discussed in clinical-terms, and obviously well beyond the child's understanding. You can lose-it and have the teacher fired out of your righteous-indignation.
It's your choice when you feel the time is right to educate your child about sex. They see the worst on TV; and hear it on the playground. It's not put in clinical-terms as aforementioned.
I personally would dismiss it; because the child is unaffected by it mentally or psychologically. It merely embarrassed you.
I think it's too much information for a 7 year-old to process; but what they're going to be exposed to on the playground and around older kids is much worse.
If it soothes your feelings to have the teacher fired or reprimanded; then report it.
...............................
A
female
reader, Ciar  + ♥, writes (1 May 2018):
 Agreed. The other thing is sex education was simply about teaching kids the basics of where babies come from.
Now it's about promoting all or certain types or 'expressions' of sexuality.
...............................
A
female
reader, MissKin +, writes (1 May 2018):
 I don't think it will be a shock to the head teacher. It's encouraged by school boards etc. to talk about sex with younger children now. The degree to which it is discussed varies dependent on age. I WOULD question if a seven year old needs to know about condoms...I thought schools had to pre warn you that these lessons were taking place as we.
By all means discuss your concerns with the head teacher but I wouldn't expect to be able to "report" the teacher as they are not doing anything wrong, technically.
...............................
A
female
reader, Honeypie + ♥, writes (1 May 2018):
 In many schools sex ed is starting younger and younger which I find appalling. 7 YEAR old's DO NOT need to know the mechanics of sex or birth control FOR Frig's sake!
I would take it up with the headmaster, asap.
I am NOT a prude and I think sex ed is important but not for 7 year old kids.
AND not without asking consent and permission from the parents.
I think it's the PARENTS choice WHEN to teach their kids about the birds and the bees.
I don't think it's appropriate at all for this teacher to do so.
...............................
|
