Skip to main content

The Birds and the Bees and the Birdees App


If you are a parent of young children, or are not yet a parent, you may be wondering when to start discussing sex with your kids.

As an infertility counsellor, believe it or not, this issue comes up with my clients all the time.  For anyone using donor sperm or egg, there always needs to be a discussion about how to disclose this information to the child and when to do so.  But regardless of whether your children were naturally conceived, the product of donor or adopted, the answer as to when to start talking about sex is the same: as early as possible!

Believe it or not, humans are sexual creatures from the day they are born.  We do not suddenly become aware of our bodies or develop sexual urges after puberty.  Also, nowadays children are exposed to sexualized images and messages very early on.

Beginning to talk to your kids about sex can begin as early as age 2, and should definitely start as soon as they are asking questions about their bodies.  What you say and how you present the information will differ, somewhat, depending on the child and on their developmental stage, but it should always be accurate, involve correct anatomical names, and be presented in as simple and non-judgemental a way as possible.

There are lots of books that can help you with this, but if gadgets are more your speed - or more the speed of your little ones - than you may want to check out the new Birdees App that provides detailed information on anatomy, sex and reproduction tailored specifically for children in all age groups.

However you decide to discuss this stuff with your kids, just make sure you do it, and do it sooner rather than later.  Remember, you as a parent have the power to help your children develop a healthy attitude towards sex and their bodies.  Be approachable.  Be accepting.  Be open-minded.  Stay calm and welcome their curiosity!

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post and all opinions expressed are my own.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Japanese 7-Spice Kelp Noodles

I love trying new spices and seasonings, so I am very excited that the President's Choice Black Label line now has a bunch of new spice blends available.  My most recent find: Shichimi Togarashi, or Japanese 7-Spice blend. It's a combination of crushed red chili flakes, sea salt, Szechiuan peppercorns, black and white sesame seeds, poppy seeds, orange zest, wasabi powder and nori seaweed flakes. I make Japanese-inspired dishes all the time, but resort to the same old flavours most of the time: miso, soy, sesame, ginger and garlic.  I was so excited to be able to liven things up a bit. This dish is easy and tasty, although be warned that this seasoning packs punch.  I used 1 tsp, which ended up being too spicy for me, and I have a high tolerance for heat!  I recommend 1/4-1/2 tsp, or, if you don't like heat at all, make your own at home and omit the red chili flakes.  You'll get all the flavour without the heat. I served these noodles with a mix of seafood (

Blackfly Coolers: Product Review

Summer is over! Well, at least if you're a student. Officially it doesn't end for a few weeks, and it certainly still feels like summer. Yeah, I hate it. This f*cking hot, humid weather needs to end NOW! We made the most of our last weekend of the summer with our annual trip to the CNE on Friday, with a crowd of friends. It wasn't unbearably lot, thank goodness, and the girls and their friends had a blast on the rides.  Saturday I had to work, and Sunday was errand day. Monday we took the girls berry/apple/pear picking but didn't last long due to the heat. I organized the house to prepare for the construction workers starting back up yesterday, while Adam took the girls for a swim in our neighbourhood pool. Yesterday was the first day of school. Grade 2 and Grade 5. Yep, the girls are growing up.  We are fortunate that the girls don't have much anxiety about school, they are so much more confident than I ever was as a kid! But now, in the midst of our reno ch

How to Look Like a Celebrity

Okay, I know you're going to be interested in this post! I am sure virtually every woman in North America has wondered how Hollywood celebrities achieve such 'perfect' bodies.  Well, at CAN FIT PRO last week, one of Hollywood's top fitness trainers, Eric the Trainer , was there to tell us fitness professionals the secrets! Eric the Trainer, gave several presentations, and I caught the one on Celebrity Secrets, and it was most interesting!!!  I also found some of what he said rather disturbing. First off, he was very upfront about the fact that celebrities come to him for improve their appearance.  Not to improve their health or athletic performance.  To look their best.  He admitted that his approach then, is entirely dedicated to that end. Male and female celebrities are trained in completely different ways because Hollywood wants women to be lithe and thin and in his words, "look like they dropped out of heaven looking this way without every having ste