uhh ohh...My 3 year old has just asked me where babies come from....

Person_one

I've never really understood the view that an understanding of sex and reproduction somehow makes children any less 'innocent'.

Caliendo

Person_one wrote: »

I've never really understood the view that an understanding of sex and reproduction somehow makes children any less 'innocent'.

Me either. I find it a bit icky when people say that.

sunshinetours

Parents should make up their own mind what is right for them and theirs as said previously. Out and out lies do noone any good but giving some details age appropriate can never be wrong and ultimately its down to each parent to chose their path for their children.

IMO giving too much info at a young age is as bad as giving wrong info or making up some fairy story about storks etc

What I personally dislike is those who think that their way is FACT and everyone else is wrong - bottom line like most parenting its just an opinion and everyone has them

Person_one

sunshinetours wrote: »

Parents should make up their own mind what is right for them and theirs as said previously. Out and out lies do noone any good but giving some details age appropriate can never be wrong and ultimately its down to each parent to chose their path for their children.

IMO giving too much info at a young age is as bad as giving wrong info or making up some fairy story about storks etc

What I personally dislike is those who think that their way is FACT and everyone else is wrong - bottom line like most parenting its just an opinion and everyone has them

The thing is though, some people's way is FACT and some people's way is lies/fairytales/unhelpful euphemism!

I agree that much of parenting is personal and down to opinion, but you can't really argue that storks/gods/magic etc is just as valid an opinion as the actual truth!

You can be age appropriate, but you still shouldn't out and out lie to your kids about something so important.

picnmix

Person_one wrote: »

The thing is though, some people's way is FACT and some people's way is lies/fairytales/unhelpful euphemism!

I agree that much of parenting is personal and down to opinion, but you can't really argue that storks/gods/magic etc is just as valid an opinion as the actual truth!

You can be age appropriate, but you still shouldn't out and out lie to your kids about something so important.

Really? Parents tell their children all sorts of drivel. Father Christmas, fairies magic etc, it is part of the innocence of childhood and it should completely be up to the parents to decide how to bring up their children. I have no wish for my innocent little 6 year old to know anything about where babies come from apart from that they came from mummy and daddys love, I will tell her more as she gets older, she has no need to know at the moment and that is my personal opinion for my child. All children are different, some are sensitive, some not so, some inquisitive, etc, etc, parents know their children better than anyone else, what may be ok for one is completely innappropriate for the other.

sunshinetours

Person_one wrote: »

The thing is though, some people's way is FACT and some people's way is lies/fairytales/unhelpful euphemism!

I agree that much of parenting is personal and down to opinion, but you can't really argue that storks/gods/magic etc is just as valid an opinion as the actual truth!

You can be age appropriate, but you still shouldn't out and out lie to your kids about something so important.

Its about the right way to tell children which is the point I was making which I am pretty sure you must have realised?!. That is opinion however anyone tries to tell you otherwise.

I am clearly not trying to argue the facts of life :rotfl:

HeidiHi

nutsohazelnuts wrote: »

I think it's unforgiveable to let a girl get to the age of 7 or 8 without knowing what periods are all about since these days puberty begins younger and younger.

Does anyone know at what age reproduction is covered in the National Curriculum nowadays?

The other thought I had recently is that if we don't explain it properly to young children, if we leave them unsatisfied and still curious even the very young ones can google nowadays and I wouldn't want the internet to educate any child about sex any more than I would a spiteful older child who tells them horrid stories to frighten them. Arguably the internet would be far worse.

I believe my youngest will cover it at school next year aged 7 precisely because so many girls start at 8 years old these days. I agree about the internet and nasty kids. Mine have always heard it from me via books and questions. If we don't tell them somebody else will.

picnmix wrote: »

Really? Parents tell their children all sorts of drivel. Father Christmas, fairies magic etc, it is part of the innocence of childhood and it should completely be up to the parents to decide how to bring up their children. I have no wish for my innocent little 6 year old to know anything about where babies come from apart from that they came from mummy and daddys love, I will tell her more as she gets older, she has no need to know at the moment and that is my personal opinion for my child. All children are different, some are sensitive, some not so, some inquisitive, etc, etc, parents know their children better than anyone else, what may be ok for one is completely innappropriate for the other.

My youngest is six and will be learning all about it next year. I don't think it hurts a child to learn about biology.

Everyone on this thread has expressed their opinion, and no doubt we all think we're right.

picnmix

HeidiHi wrote: »

I believe my youngest will cover it at school next year aged 7 precisely because so many girls start at 8 years old these days. I agree about the internet and nasty kids. Mine have always heard it from me via books and questions. If we don't tell them somebody else will.



My youngest is six and will be learning all about it next year. I don't think it hurts a child to learn about biology.

Everyone on this thread has expressed their opinion, and no doubt we all think we're right.

The point I was making was that it actually depends on the child, I don't think that my way is the right way, just the right way for my DD6, my second DD is completely different I answer questions in a very different way for her, than her sister.

Person_one

picnmix wrote: »

Really? Parents tell their children all sorts of drivel. Father Christmas, fairies magic etc, it is part of the innocence of childhood and it should completely be up to the parents to decide how to bring up their children. I have no wish for my innocent little 6 year old to know anything about where babies come from apart from that they came from mummy and daddys love, I will tell her more as she gets older, she has no need to know at the moment and that is my personal opinion for my child. All children are different, some are sensitive, some not so, some inquisitive, etc, etc, parents know their children better than anyone else, what may be ok for one is completely innappropriate for the other.

I knew someone would bring up Father Christmas or the Tooth Fairy eventually! I hoped my "something so important" qualifier might prevent it but nevermind.

Father Christmas is tricky, I think it would probably be better if the tradition hadn't started and if I had children I would love for them never to hear of the myth, sadly nobody lives in a vacuum and FC and others are so ubiquitous and a huge part of popular culture that your children are bound to hear about them and you have to pay it as best you can.

Babies are real, sex is real, there's a logical, sensible and completely age appropriate way to answer your children's questions on these subjects without resorting to 'drivel', why not do that?

picnmix

Person_one wrote: »

I knew someone would bring up Father Christmas or the Tooth Fairy eventually! I hoped my "something so important" qualifier might prevent it but nevermind.

Father Christmas is tricky, I think it would probably be better if the tradition hadn't started and if I had children I would love for them never to hear of the myth, sadly nobody lives in a vacuum and FC and others are so ubiquitous and a huge part of popular culture that your children are bound to hear about them and you have to pay it as best you can.

Babies are real, sex is real, there's a logical, sensible and completely age appropriate way to answer your children's questions on these subjects without resorting to 'drivel', why not do that?

I have never said that now at 6 I haven't explained in an age appropriate way where babies come from. I have, and it didnt involve the stork! It's up to each parent to decide when and how they explain and I personally don't think there is a right or wrong way to explain, so long as it is appropriate for that child.. It's up to the OP to decide what is right for her child and believe you me with some kiddies too much information at a young age causes all sorts of problems. I have experience with this as work in health promotion in schools.

As for the father christmas comment, sorry if it offended, but I was just making the point that as parents we "bend the truth" to our children every day and at 6 father christmas is far more important than where babies actually come from.
I was just trying to explain that whilst I do not think my way is right, it is just the way with the personality of my DD that I decided to do it.