Sex Education- The Unsanskari Talks With Your Children!!
“Sex Education? How can we talk about sex with our children? We are parents. They will learn about it on their own when they grow up. Bacche bigad jayenge.” No, Mrs Sharma, bacche nahi bigdenga!Â
Sex Education in our country is still taboo. Parents and school authorities need to realize how important it is to teach about the subject. We will discuss why you should have these “unsanskari talks” with your children and how it is an important part of parenting.
A lot of people have the misconception that sexual education is all about sexual intercourse. It is an umbrella term with many topics under it, like knowing about your body, changes during puberty, how to recognize sexual abuse and more.
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Many parents find talking about sex discomforting as it is still taboo in our society. They worry that talking about sex will lead to experimentation. Dear parents, no matter what, your children will always be curious to know about sex because it is present everywhere.
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This curiosity leads to surfing porn sites, knowing nothing. What happens in porn is not reality. It makes them insecure about themselves and questions their bodies. Porn does not show the concept of consent or using contraception which creates unwanted expectations.
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Why is Sex Education Necessary?
Awareness about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases/infections. Let them know that unprotected sex is not just limited to having an unwanted pregnancy. It can also lead to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. It is not necessary to tell your children right from their childhood. Take your time. But, tell them when you think they are ready to absorb such information.
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Tell them about their bodies. If children are not aware of their bodies, they will never know the concept of good touch and bad touch. They will not be able to recognize sexual abuse. Parents should also teach their children about their genitals the same way they teach them where their eyes and ears are and how to distinguish between good and bad touch.
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They should also be introduced to gender identities. Due to many stereotypes, there are gender norms present that unconsciously instils into their minds. Teach them about various genders and how to be more inclusive and become visually welcoming. This helps them become better humans as well.
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The most important of them all is consent. Children must know how to take and give permission for anything and everything. It must be taught from the very beginning that “No means No” and “Yes means Yes”. By teaching your child this, you allow them to know that their voice matters.
Sex education helps children and teenagers become emotionally stable, allowing them to evaluate their behaviour without getting swept away by their emotions.
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Adolescence (10–19 years) is a period of opportunity for children, defined by a transition from childhood to adulthood. During this phase, young people undergo significant physiological changes, following puberty but do not immediately assume the different adult duties, rights, and obligations.
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Yes, we agree they will learn about all this somehow in the later stages of life. But learning from the wrong sources will only lead to hurting themselves by having expectations, questioning themselves and whatnot. Teaching your children sex education could also put them at ease and help them trust you more. The process might be challenging, but in the end, it’s going to be worth it. So next time when your little one asks, “Mumma main kaha se aaya”, do not copy-paste the cliche “pari waali” story.
Blog Edited By Ritika Gupta
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