"Birds and Bees" Talk with 8 Yr Old Daughter?

There is a Bearnstein Bears book, about the "Birds and the Bees". A nice story to bring it up at a young age.

I had the talk with my daughter when she was about ten or eleven, but I graduated from a business school that specialized in the medical field. So, I had a medical terminology book. There were drawings of the various body parts that were not actual photographs, and I was able to give her the correct information with the correct terminology as well. I feel she understands well. I used this same book when I gave her the "monthly" talk too. You could probably get these books anywhere. Because I own the book, I can always refer to it whenever she has a question. It can come in handy for upcoming little ones as well.

Good luck!

Hi G.,

Yep. You have to tell them early. If you don't someone else will. I had heard on Oprah once years ago that 8 was the age to tell the kids. They are old enough to comprehend and young enough to not really care that much.

I pushed it clear until the end of my daughter's 8th year and later learned that she'd already been told by my 9 year old niece of all people! She was so relieved when I told her about it, because she was confused and didn't understand much of what she had been told.

Don't give too much information, you'll get to do that when their hormones kick it. It is like starting the whole conversation over when they are dealing with their own puberty. But don't worry about that, it all happens naturally if you keep open communication with your kids.

During "the talk" be respectful, but not deathly serious about everything. Be prepared for a variety of responses from your daughter. I have to tell you the funniest line during "the talk" with my oldest daughter.

I'd just explained intercourse and with a totally disgusted and shocked response, she blurted out, "You and Dad have had to do that 3 times!?!" (because we had three kids). I started laughing and then opened my big mouth and said something eluding to that you don't only do it to have babies. Her jaw dropped and she said in an exasperating voice, "You mean you do it for fun!?!" Then she grabbed her head and threw herself back on the bed doing this totally blown away, grossed out giggle. It was hilarious!

I think the most important thing that needs to be said during "the talk", is that if she ever has any questions about what someone is talking about at school that you would like her to come to you so you can explain things to her. There will be times you may have to swallow hard before you answer, but it is so rewarding and very peaceful to know your child trusts and you and that you are having the chance to correct errors and guide her in the right direction concerning her virtue, her thoughts, and her understanding about relationships.

Way to go for having the guts to talk to her! It'll go great!

A.

I used a very similar approach as Heather F. I took my daughter along with me on a small road trip where we'd have lots of uninterrupted time to talk and I started talking to her about the creation, and then led into talking about sex with telling her that God gave us the opportunity to help a little bit in creating. I explained it as a gift from God that has to be used in the way that he intended it- in marriage, and not at any other time. I explained to her about a woman's and man's anatomy, inside and out, and how Heavenly Father made these just so to match up like puzzle pieces do, how he thought out all the details like that. She asked me lots of questions, like, "Did you and Daddy do it in the hospital before you had my brother?", and I calmly explained the answers. It went very well and she didn't freak out at anything. She thought it was weird, but she was okay with it, and I'm really glad I opened up that line of communication so we can continue to talk openly about it. "The talk" shouldn't happen just once, but should be an ongoing dialogue. Good luck to you.

Talk to her now and don't be afraid to explain everything to her. I see that you are religious and in this situation God is on your side! Explain to your daughter the divine nature of procreation. Tell her that God gave women the ability to have children to fulfil his commandment to Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth. He also has commanded that this is to be done under the covenant of marriage.

This part is hard and depends on your personal faith. If you want her to refrain from having sex as a pre-teen, or teenager, you can put in the talk that other people who engage in this behavior are sinning and that they are not respecting their own bodies or the bodies of others.

At eight, your daughter will learn enough to be dangerous so it is imperative that you be honest and direct. Show her diagrams of the uterus and explain about the travels of the egg down the tubes to the uterus where it implants and grows into a baby. Make sure to remind her that she came to the earth that way and that we all do. Then it won't seem so foreign to her. Good luck and may God Bless you with the right words to provide knowledge and safety to your daughter!

Hi,

My daughter is 33 yrs old now and even my son who is 37 yrs. and I started our talk when she started her period. I gathered books from library with pictures to make it easier for me. I also told her that IF she had any questions to ask me any time because her friends did not know the facts. Girl, I was became her TRUSTED friend and she told me more than I wanted to HEAR, but I LISTENED withoug getting angry and what I disagreed with I told her why.

None of her girlfrends had their TALK with mothers so I welcomed if they wanted to talk to me.

I did explained and took her to Planned Parent hood that if she was going to even think of having SEX she was playing with FIRE and she needed to protect herself from pregnancy and dieases.

Good Luck
M.

When my son was in 5th grade they had an 8 week class on the subject, so my 3rd grade daughter had heard about it from him. She started asking questions, so she got the talk. If it's out there and she has heard about it, then talk to her. What you say and how far into the details you get is up to you, but I just stuck with the issues she had brought up and didn't go any further. Plenty of time for the rest of the details later.

Good luck,
J.
www.livetotalwellness.com/janislanz

Dear G., using a tomato plant as an illustration, show your children that the plant started from a seed. Then it grew to a big tomato plant and made little flowers. When the bees go to the flowers, they are fertilizing the tomato bush so it can make tomatoes. When they are ready, tiny little tomatoes grow into bigger tomatoes and ripen, then they are full grown and ready to pick. Tell her that is just how a baby comes to a mommy and daddy. The other little girls are having fun pretending they are pregnant and have tiny babies in their tummies. Their bodies are not grown up enough to have a baby grow in their body yet. Reassure her that she does not have a baby growing in her uterus. Use the proper terminology so there will not be a misunderstanding that a baby is in anybody's stomach with food. The uterus is the place where a baby can grow when the body is mature enough. Your little boy may want to say he has a uterus too. Don't ridicule him. Tell him that when he is a grown up man, he can be a daddy and when your daughter is a grown up girl, she can be a mommy. That may be enough info for your daughter for now. When she wants more info be ready to give it to her so she can learn it at home from you in a positive, loving, and accurate way. Have fun teaching your children. If they ask you something you are unprepared for, tell them you want to think about your answer so you can collect your thoughts, then answer them soon. Happy learning! C.

"Keep it simple, stupid" is the motto around my house. When a commercial came on the other day, my 8 year old son asked, "What's genital herpes?" My answer was, "It's a rash on your pee pee." Then he asked how you get it. My husband told him "from making bad decisions about love". That worked for him! I always follow stuff like this up with something like, "Since this is an issue about private parts, it's OK to ask questions and talk about it at home, but it's not appropriate for regular conversations in public." This way he understands the sensitive nature of the subject and he doesn't run around telling everyone about his newly acquired knowledge! :)

If you're uncomfortable, wait until she asks a question and then give a simple, age appropriate answer. No doubt she'll ask about it again in the future, but she'll be ready for a more in-depth answer when she asks. It may take a couple rounds of this before you get to the actual nuts and bolts of it!

I agree, Kids get exposed to things sooner and sooner. I offerred what I felt like was age appropriate information to my kids beginning around 6 yrs old. You'd be surprised how little is "enough" for them. We always assume when we have the "talk" it has to be every little detail! But an 8 year old girl is only going to be able to handle some of those details now. I think she'll give you feedback about what she really needs to know. Start small, provide more info as she gets older and her level of maturity is ready for more!

There are some great books out there, which I think help "bridge" these topics, even make them a little lighthearted and funny. Check your library or bookstore for books that you might be comfortable with. My kids are now 12 and 15 and I feel a little more info as they get older seems to work well!

Good luck!

It's time when they start asking questions, so your daughter is not too young. If she asks you something you feel unsure about how you want to answer, tell her "That's a good question, can we talk about that ..." and set a time and then think about how you want to proceed (get a good book to help, etc.) and then sit down with her like you promised and talk. Start by asking what she's thinking about and stay specific and truthfull (of course!) You may only have to tell some stuff, or she may ask questions that leads to the whole story (yikes, right?!) Let her questions guide you. She'll worry more about the misinformation she's likely already hearing than the facts she can get from you. And I think we have to see this as not having "the talk" with our kids and then we are done, but rather opening up an ongoing dialog about the values and ideas of human sexuality you want to share with your children.
Deep breathe and go for it! I'm not far behind you with my oldest son. My husband and I tease each other about sticking with the stork story, or playing rock, scissors, paper and the looser has to have the talk first, but we are also already thinking about how we want our approach to be on this subject.

P. (SAHM with 3 boys 7,5,& 2)

Oh boy this is young (thanks to Brittany Spears sister). I was lucky enough to wait until both my kids were 10 that babies come from your stomach when a wife and her husband are in love, married, and really want kids. The baby grows bigger each month and then is born. Emphasize the medical side of it and this may keep the discussion on a more appropriate track. I would not give any other info voluntarily unless she asks for it...but be lucky she is asking you and not relying on her friends totally. Remember these kids at school often have older siblings telling them things also.
I was able to wait until the school played the dreaded "video." This video mainly covered how your body changes. I went by a bookstore and found an age appropriate book with pictures. The books I chose did not include the act of sex. I found a wonderful book that showed the many different female shapes and they were all fine. It showed a complete range of female figures. This book definitely helped me to communicate to her that there is not just one barbie doll shape. I told her that when kids bodies begin to mature then boys and girls may begin to act differently also and to only accept respectful treatment from both sexes. Let her dad get in on the conversation later. He can provide great info on how boys show respect and friendships. Never let a boy yell or hit you or tell you what to do. This is very important to teach them self respect at a young age. There will be a time in Middle School where you can add additional age appropriate info. By the way, it was the 7th grade that my daughter learned about sex (quite detailed) in health class.

I'm not real good at this either but the "experts" say that when they are able to ask questions you should answer honestly but on their understanding level. (but who knows what our kids understanding level is?!) Anyway, as a Christian I would let her know what the bible says about love, marriage and babies. But too much info can scare or scar a little one. I would tell her the basics and she gets older give her a little more detail. Love, marriage,sex, marriage and babies are a natural, wonderful, God instructed union that needs to be told honestly or our children will grow up believing what their friends or television tell them. Please let me know what you say to her as I have a 10 yr old daughter that I haven't had "the talk" with yet, either. Good luck.

Defintely not too early. I have been answering specific questions for years now and my daughter is 10. She is very smart and analytical and a worrier like yours. One of her most worrisome misconceptions when she was quite small was how does a woman actually have a baby in her TUMMY without digesting it. We HAD to go to the anatomy book for that one.

If you have already talked to them about it then the little class they have at school in 4th grade is not so big and scary. I DO think it is important for them to go to that class becasue it gives the girls a chance to get comfortable with their teachers just in case they do start their first menstrual cycle at school. But don't depend on it to educate your daughter. After the class at school my daughter came home and told me she liked my explanations better and thanked me for them. I would always give the scientific explanation but also give a symbolic illustration from nature. The main one I recall (because it was my daughter's favorite) is a comparison of birds building a nest each season to a woman's menstrual cycle. The birds build a nest each season. If the eggs turn into baby birds then the nest is needed for the babies to grow in. If no baby birds then the momma bird does not need the nest and it is not maintained. This can be combined with the fertilization explanation depending on if they ask or how old they are. (But if they walk in on you in the potty while you are on your cycle the bird story helps them understand that you are NOT about to bleed to death but your body is just discarding the 'nest'.)LOL

When my son was 4 he asked how he got out of my tummy. Another trip to the anatomy book.....I had a C-section and didn't want him to have confusion about that in his little head.....

I answered things as they came up. But with us still having younger siblings, cousins, etc. they learned it in pieces all along from the time they were old enough to start noticing things.

For myself, I was the youngest until I was 8. My older sister had a baby so the other sister (I am 14 yrs younger) bought me a book that is designed for children that age. It goes over basic concepts on conception, differences in anatomy with very basic drawings, sex, etc. I personally found it disgusting, but was glad to have the correct information. I respected what I was told and did not share the information with the entire class, but I also did not wonder or believe all the silly stories floating around. ;-)

So if I were you, I would just go to the bookstore, get a book you like and read it with your dd. Ask her if she has any questions, and be honest and open. If they know you are not lying to them about things, they will come to you later when they need other questions answered....much more important questions like whether 12 yr olds should be having sex. And yes 12 year olds do that these days, sadly enough.

I have only read a few of the other responses but I am thrilled to see that other parents are teaching their children about abstinence. Our precious ones need knowledge and good sense out there in the world. Who better to teach them than us? Regarding your question, I have always believed that if they were old enough to ask they were old enough to be answered. Of course keeping their maturity level in mind. They will appreciate your honesty and it will keep the lines of communication open which is imperative. My kids are 16 & 20 now and they still come to me and my husband for answers or advice. I agree with you that it seems like we are having to deal with this sort of thing earlier and earlier. It might have something to do with all of the sex on T.V., movies and the radio these days. Even if our children aren't watching or listening to that stuff their peers might be which leads to questions. Also, both of my children have complained before about the music that's played on the school bus! When I called to complain one time I found out that the driver was playing a station that wasn't allowed. I would never have known if my son hadn't told me. I am so very thankful that your little girl had the good sense to talk to you. Yea Mom!

Well, I also have an 8 yr old, whom also put me in the spot about the S*E*X word. She said the kids at school were telling her all kinds of things. The first thing I told her was that you only do that when you are married, which hopefully is after college, then I told her that God punishes us for our sins. I just went ahead and told her the truth, because these days they are learning at a younger age. Kids these days are having kids. So I told her the facts about the outcomes. 1, pregnancy, 2 STDs, 3 having the responsibility as a parent. I told her it would be a heartbreak. Times are hard and I would hate for her to ruin her life so young. I would rather her come to me and know the truth, then to listen to all these different kids telling her things and then later deal with them after the mistakes. Good luck!.

G., Talk to her!! Your daughter will benefit from your wisdom a whole lot more than from her 8 yr. old peer group:) She is learning about the b&b's and your advice may keep her from worrying. It is coming from someone she knows she can trust and she'll be able to dispell some of the weird things she's already heard. Give her the facts appropriate to her age and maturity level and she'll have ammo under her belt to combat ignorance. It may help to soften the overall seriousness of this conversation with a grown-up girlie luncheon or some kind of 'Mom time' treat.

Talk to her now. Start small and let he ask questions, that way she doesn't get too much. Don't wait.

G.,
You don't want to wait until she is 10 because most likely it would be coming from some of her peers instead of you. I have an excellent book that I read to my kids when they were 8. It's is called "How You Are Changing" by Jane Graver. It is geared to 8 - 11 years old and it explains it in proper terms at that age level.

God Bless your family

I asked a similar question recently, my son is 7. I know that you want to give them as little info in teh simplest way but still answer their question. My son actually has accepted the "that is a discussion for when youa re older" answer which was good for me!

My son knows that men and women are made differently. I have explained that women have a special place called a womb in their tummy and when a mommy and daddy get married and love each other very much sometimes God will bless them with a baby. Then he wanted to know how the doctor got the baby out and if it hurt. I explained that sometimes it hurts, and there is a special tunnel called the birth canal that the baby comes out of. Now he wants to know where the birth canal is UGH!! lol

So what I am going to do is try to find a book that explains anatomy in a simple not too graphic way so that i can show him how the body works, lungs, heart, uterus etc.

I think that children who have older siblings, and or moms that are having more babies ask a lot of questions but also give a lot of misinformation.

Our questions started with a neighbor who recently had a baby. My son is sooooo curious about everything and want to know it all!

Anyway I am sure you will find the perfect thing to satisfy her and make sure she knows to come to you with questions and not rely on kids at school!

Good luck!

Looks like you've got some great responses here. The book I used to help me with my daughter's 8-year-old "talk" was "How to talk to your child about sex" by Linda & Richard Eyre. It helps you with what to say when and what wording to use. I also used the book "where did I come from?" by Peter Mayle for the visual part of the talk.
Good luck
A.

Oh dear -- I think I am one of the mothers whose daughters is out there worrying daughters like yours! My own policy, for what it's worth, is to answer all questions honestly but at a level the kid can grasp. I do believe that by keeping to that and trying to handle sex in a matter-of-fact, calm way, that I have given my six year old good information without unduly scaring her. Just by acknowledging, when we see a pregnant woman, that she has a baby in her tummy and is going to have a baby, and that my daughter was in my tummy at one point, I think has gone a long way toward normalizing things. One time she asked how I could tell the difference between boy dogs and girl dogs, and we looked up a picture of male human anatomy on google (my best friend where sex ed is concerned). Later apparently she said to my husband "so do you have a little sac between your legs?" which he reported back to me, saying "thanks a lot!" But we try not to have big reactions to her questions or observations, either of laughter or panic. We use correct vocabulary for body parts, although she came up with her own word for vagina (tooty), and are sure to emphasize the idea of private parts and of privacy. I think these seem to be working for me -- answering questions as they come up (once she saw blood in a toilet in a women's room and was disgusted and panicky so I gave her a simple run-down about menstruation and now she knows), using correct terminology and being matter-of-fact, but also emphasizing privacy and the fact that he body is hers -- particularly her private parts, which are called that for a reason. Oh -- and we do also pay attention to shows about animals and animal behavior -- she has seen pigeons mating, for instance, and knows that's where baby pigeons come from (the moment at which I figured out why adults have long called this talk "the birds and the bees")

For whatever it's worth =- at least this will let you know what kinds of information other kids in her class might have. Good luck!

M.

You might not like the answer but if she's asking, If you want to be the first one to explain this part of life to her then you should do so now. There is no longer a set age to discuss any type of childhood experience with your children. My experience has been that if you dont address issue other children at school or in the neighbor will. Their explanation might not be the information you want you daughter to know. If she is aware of issue from your prospective it will lessen her chances that she listens to others or ask them. These days if you have a television in your home children are exposed to every sexual act and subject that can be known. Also I have learned the very very hard way not to trust any other parent. Believe me what you find TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE might just be something they have taught their children and do not have a problem allowing your child to participate in things they allow their children to.

G.,
Lots of the ladies have given you some great advice here. The only thing that I would like to add is that children will pick up on your attitudes towards sex and the body as well as what you tell them. IF you treat it as something dirty or shameful they will pick up on that and will be less likely to come to you for information out of fear of letting you down or embarassment. It is a natural part of life and it is normal for children of all ages to be curious about the body and interaction with others. There is no age for "the Talk" rather it should just be an ongoing conversation from the begining. As they grow they have questions, answer them openly and honestly. If you give them too little info they will ask further questions. It can also send mix messages when you give private areas of the body nicknames. You don't have a nickname for your leg or your arm. Children who use proper terms for private areas of their bodies are less likey targets for preditors. Take a deap breath and remember that you have answered her questions about all sorts of things and this is just one more thing.

I would answer the questions she asks and wait until she asks more. In our family "the talk" will happen over a few years as they have questions. My girls are 7&9 and I tried to start the "lecture" but they had no interest. I started with questions so I would know where to start. They were so "grossed out" that I just left it open for them to ask me if they had any questions.

Dear G.,
I have 2 girls (now 22 & 25) so I understand what you are going through. Sadly children these days learn all the wrong things at a much earlier age. I never allowed my girls to attend the classes for sex education at school. I feel that it was my place as their parent to teach them how God intended it to be and not something that would be ugly or scientific. I went to a Christian book store and they have a lot of tapes & books to choose from. I reviewed quite a few & chose one that I thought my girls would understand. We watched the tape together, answered any questions they might have & then we read the book I chose. Being godly is a big plus on you & your husbands side. I did a lot of praying - trust me! Parents these days want to have kids but don't have time for them or believe that it's the teachers and schools responsibility to teach them the most important things in this unfortunately sad world we live in today. We were very strict with our girls & taught them manners which are lacking today. We would get postcards in the mail from their teachers telling us how polite & well behaved they were. To us, this is just plain commmon courtesy. Never let your guard down & let them know they can come to you about anything, bad or good. We told our girls that nobody will ever love them more than we do, even when they may slip. I pray alot for the children today & I'll say a special prayer for you too. You sound like a wonderful mother & I'm sure you will do just fine. God bless.

C. R.

I am always honest and straight forward, I use the proper names for all body parts in my house so it isn't to bad, my 8 yr old came to me with it last year although I thought, yikes!! Her question was "how do you get a baby in your tummy?"
I knew I had to honest if I intend on having an open relationship with her, and besides I want her to get good honest information from me rather than from other kids her age that don't know what they are talking about.
I got a book called: "What's the big secret?" it helped out a lot and helped me to explain things in her language and age appropriate terminology that she would understand.
I didn't give her more than she asked for but told her if has any other questions I would be happy to answer them.
hope this helps.

Hi G.,
I have 2 girls and age 8 is not too early. The best guidance I have received, was from a speaker at our PTA meeting about the subject, titled, "Getting Over the Sex Talk Jitters". Here is her info: Aim for Success, Marilyn Morris, ###-###-#### (Dallas) www.aimforsuccess.org

She provides age appropriate scripts and guidelines that incorporate YOUR belief system. It is empowering and provided me (and my daughters) with peace of mind.

Ask your PTA to have her come and speak at a meeting. I can send you a copy my notes and her handouts if you send me an email.

Sincerely,
L. M

I had to have this talk with my 5 year old when she entered into kindergarten. Some boys were singing and talking about it. It was more horrible for me than for her. I tried that simple approach and kept info to a minimum and only answered her questions in general. Thing is, my daughter is very detail oriented and kept asking questions. My answers went from very general to very specific. I was devastated, but I had to be honest with her. I also told her I will talk about this with her as long as we are alone. It's not something we should discuss among others. She was finally content with the explanation. She is in 1st grade now and has asked some confirmation questions this year, but that has been the extent of it. I want my daughter to feel comfortable talking with about anything no matter what, and that means I have to be willing to answer her questions honestly. I had only hoped I wouldn't have had this conversation so early. But, if they are already hearing things at school, then I must equip them with the truth and how to handle what they are around, else I am only hurting them. Kids grow up way too fast nowadays. But, I have make sure my child can survive in the midst and that she never believes lies. My daughter is probably one of the only children in her class that understands the basics of sex. Ha! I say that because I'm cringing just remembering having to have that talk at 5 years old. Oh well. Kids are becoming sexually active in some way as early as 10. Many girls are also beginning to have their periods at 10/11. It's worth beginning that conversation now and not regret it later!!!

8 is when I started learning. It DOES seem young, but some girls are early bloomers, and even if your daughter's not, she'll be around them.

Through the school years, I ended up being the one with the most matter-of-fact, and correct information. I credit this to my mother's no-nonsense approach to sexuality, which gave me the same attitude.

Just treat it like it is, a natural, normal part of life, and she'll be fine. Good luck to you...even though I plan to broach this with my daughter when she's around 8, I'm not exactly looking forward to it!

My experience with my kids is that I tell them when they ask, no matter what the age. I answer their questions in a matter of fact way, with NO sugar coating. I get things out of books, internet, pictures to back up the talk. I don't tell them more than they ask. It is an open conversation in my house. You never know what they'll pop up with at the dinner table. We are very comfortable talking about sex in our house. The kids always have come to us first and now the grandkids do the same thing. hth

Eight is not too soon. I used to teach 3rd grade, and I had an eight year old girl that started her period. I was the first person she told. The poor girl thought she was dying. After making sure she hadn't been sexually abused, I told her the wonderful news: that she was turning into a woman. Her mother wasn't much help: at first she totally denied that her daughter was starting her period, then all she told the poor girl about her body was that "If a boy touches you, you will get pregnant." The boys all started touching her to make her scream.

By eight their pubic hair is coming in, which means their hormones are changing. (My daughter is nine, and she checks the length all the time. Each micron is meaningful to her.) They need to know, and be fully informed about how their body works. The more relaxed you can be about telling the story, the easier it will be for her to hear and accept.

My sister gave in to her toddler because she was afraid that it would be bad- my niece would scream until she threw up and then started holding her breath. So she let her do whatever she wanted because otherwise she;d throw up or hold her breath.

Well, that toddler has turned into one mean and rotten 5 year old so I caution you against letting him have his way to avoid the episodes!!

S., mom to four and SO thankful I haven't had to deal with this, what a nightmare!! I feel bad for you.

My 9 year olds doctor just mentioned to me its almost time to talk about that with her. I have found a nice book I am going to use, I have a friend who has already used it and its helped them out a lot. It is called "Ready, Set & Grow" by Linda Maradaras. It talks about what her body is going through, also. Hope this helps.

I've found that with my 7 year old son, his curiosity is usually satisfied with just a little information here and there. Yes, he needs "the talk", but not at 7! A simple correction for the info your daughter heard at school may do it. You could explain that, "No, there isn't a small baby in girls' tummies, but there is an egg." You could go on to eplain that there is an egg there and compare it to something she's familiar with,like bird eggs. This simple fix may satisfy her curiosity. I've tried to give my son info as he needs it, to explain an experience or situation in very simple terms. When he's satisfied, with an "okay, Mom," that's where I stop. They'll hear a lot of misinformation from friends at school, but I figure if I take the time to explain the small things now, maybe he'll come to me with the bigger things later.

8 years old is young but you definitely don't want her learning it the wrong way or misinformation as I'm sure her little friends don't know everything either. My son is the same way about worry. I think you can spare her the intimate details for now but just reassure her that God gave us sex as an expression of total intimate love (of course in 8 year old language) and that out of that love a child is born.

I think you should take this as an opportunity to talk about some things. With my kids, every time they brought something up like this, regardless of their age, little by little, I would tell them a little more, and just not make a big issue out of it. If they are old enough to ask, I think you should answer their questions or clarify things. This approach worked well for us I think.