At what age should you talk to your children about sex?

Some parents simply leave sex education up to schools to deal with but others prefer to broach the topic with their children themselves. 

Speaking to Lunchtime Live, Tracey said she had grown up in a home that was “conservative” when it came to sex and she wants the same for her children. 

“I wasn’t even allowed to watch Dallas and I’ve brought that same kind of thing to my own house,” she said. 

“I’d be very wary of my kids watching anything on TV that was inappropriate - or Netflix or anything like that.  

“I just think their minds are still so young and I just want them to be as innocent as they can be for as long as they can be.” 

Her daughters have received sex education at school and that was the first time the subject was broached with them. 

They asked her a few follow up questions which Tracey was happy to “elaborate” on for them. 

“They talk amongst friends as well, as they get older,” she said. 

“That’s how I found out a lot of things as well, just talking to your own age group, rather than sitting down and having a chat with Mom or Dad, it was just finding out as you went along.” 

'They start getting inquisitive'

One caller with a different attitude to the issue was Brenda, who believes children should be told about the facts of life at a young age. 

“I think it’s important with children, even young primary school age children, it’s important to talk to them on their level when they start getting inquisitive about sexual body parts,” she said. 

“I think it’s important as well to refer to them with the correct names and not make up comical names. 

“Then, as they become pre-pubescent, maybe eight or nine, I think it’s important that they learn about the logistics of sex and it’s important that they have these words and this vocabulary before they go through puberty and go to the bigger school and these discussions come up.” 

School curriculum

Brenda’s son was taught about sex while attending primary school in Germany and she decided at that point the time was right to have her own discussion with him. 

“Around seven or eight, they’re already starting to discuss the ins and outs of pregnancy and how are babies made, so I decided that’s a good opportunity for me to start making that open conversation in our home as well,” she said. 

Her son’s reaction to it all was “fine” and he viewed it as simply another aspect of his education. 

“It’s just another fact of life for him, as is learning the names of the animals,” Brenda said. 

An updated sex education curriculum for primary and secondary school children is being prepared by the Department of Education. 

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Main image: A mother and her child at home. Picture by: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/dpa