Advice About the Birds and the Bees

There are some wonderful books that you can share with your child about sex. You can add one during your regular reading time routine. Don't get the ones that are so detailed, that's for a bit later. Also, I found that just answering questions as they come up helps. By seeing animals mate or seeing baby animals being born, this creates a interest and natural curosity about life. Most important relax and let it a natural part of life.
Happy Parenting!

D.

At nine you are coming into puberty years fast! Simple and factual is what you need. Answer any question with as little emotional reaction as possible. How far you get into it is up to you. One of the things I did to start it was make a grow up kit. Deoderent, shaving cream, foot powder, jock strap, all the things he will need over the years and all in a cool case. Also fun things, cool comb, good smelling soap. For my daughters I filled it with pads and pms relief as well as lip gloss, lotion, brush and very cute nail clippers. You will need to cover hygene too! It made it fun and easy as we went through all the pieces and when and how to use them and when to clue me in! This then led to LOTS of questions.

There is a great book called, "Where Did I Come From?" It's got cartoon pictures and easily understood information for children. The first time we read it with our kids and then we just left it in their library to read again whenever they wanted to.

My recommendation comes from personal experince more then parenting experince as for i have not crossed this path yet. My sister and I were two years apart in age, My parents started to explain to her at nine also about the B&Bs. She was a little shy about it and afraid to talk about it because I think at this age her friends had either talked to their parents or come to their own conclusions about it and they had all started sharing. But I was seven and sooooo interested! I remember sitting and asking all sorts of questions and wnting to know all about it. My mom didnt really take the que from me. She had me leave the room I dont know if she thought that I was to young or what. Then at nine my class in school was going over the B&Bs and about puberty and my mom attempted to talk to me about it. I avoided her like the plague.. I was terrified by then to talk to her about it. ANd way embarassed. So my point is if you think your daughter is ready maybe make it a family talk. I think after a certain age kids dont want to talk to their parents about it because one their friends have gotten to them or they are embarassed. So get in while you have a chance to put your views on them instead of someone else. You may not be late with your son because they tend to be behind girls in some things, I dont know if this is one of them but it is never to late to try with him!! Good luck and let us know how is goes, we will all be there someday!!

Hi T.,

I understand about you not wanting your kids to learn from the wrong sources. I am the same way.

I always answer my kids' questions frankly and age appropriately, using the correct terminology when they asked me, and I never went beyond the specific question(s) they asked. If the answer to one question led to another question, *then* I would answer it.

I don't have any suggestion as to books, as I never used them(I'd use the web if I needed to research something specific such as STDs), but I'm sure other posters will have some great suggestions, and you can even go onto other parenting sites and look up what they recommend.

I wish you the best of luck and much success. It can be a little intimidating at first, but as long as you take your cues from the kids, and don't overwhelm them with information, it should go very well.

K. W

I LOVE the book "Everything you never wanted your kids to know about sex, but were afraid they'd ask" - and cannot remember the author(s) right now. I picked it up at Babeland on Capitol Hill in Seattle (where I am), and am sure you can find it elsewhere. There are also workbooks out there for both boys and girls - I think the ones I got were "What's Happening to my Body?" - and probably the biggest piece of advice I have is be open to hearing everything they say and as non-judgemental as possible as they broach things to you, and they'll be more open about talking. Also, be direct about safer sex and make sure you are giving them access to all of the information you wish you'd had at their age.

Best to you!
S.

My great grandmother wrote this. I read it to my son along with other discussions.
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookSearchPL?an=sidonie%2...