Recently, I got this comment:

I completely agree with this comment! ⬆️

• I want you to be answering your kid’s sex questions in a medically-accurate and age-appropriate way because it provides them with education and information that can protect them from CSA.

• I do believe you should explain what sex is to your Intermediate age kid (ages 7,8,9).

• But I do not believe you need to use the word sex when explaining where babies come from to a 5 year-old.

Using the word sex when explaining where babies come from shifts the focus away from explaining age-appropriate information. Information about body parts, pregnancy, and reproduction are all part of the Where do Babies Come From Talk but young kids don’t know how to ask about each of these topics.

So, a kid ends up asking just one question, “Where do babies come from?” But there’s 75+ related questions that kids have no idea to ask about until you start having this talk with them. Stay focused!

If you want to use the word sex to answer the question, “Where do babies come from?” you have every right to as a parent to do that. 

However, you don’t have to if you don’t want to. That’s the alternative I offer parents based on my 15+ years of teaching sex ed. I don’t tell parents to never say the word sex, instead I encourage parents to layer the talks to build up to having The Sex Talk. 

As parents, it’s our job to teach our kids about bodies, babies and growing-up so that they get all of this information - even if they aren’t asking specifically about it. When parents are told they don’t have to use the word ‘sex’ at this age, they are more likely to start having the early talks. 

This is a good thing! It allows parents to build their confidence and focus on all things related to pregnancy and reproduction that their young child didn’t know to ask about. It’s laying a solid foundation to the sex talk that’ll be coming up in the Intermediate age.

Waiting to use the word sex, you can focus on other age-appropriate topics like:

• using medically-accurate terms for the anatomy

• teaching reproductive bodily functions

• normalizing consent language

• developing bodily autonomy

• acknowledging different types of families

• defining healthy and unhealthy friendships

I can help help you with all that! You can build a solid foundation to the sex talk starting now with the Early Talks Guide! 

• a 45-minute video guide where I break down the layers to age-appropriately explain Where do Babies Come From to a child between the ages of 4 and 6 (giving you the space to watch at your convenience with unlimited access!)

• the 17-page Guide to the Early Sex Talks that teaches you the building blocks to the future talks, the parenting habits that help you become more confident answering your child’s questions, & the answers to 25 common sex questions kids ask in the Primary Age!

• the Tips & Scripts Pocket Guide for the Where do Babies Come From Talk so you don’t have to try to write down everything from the video guide & can easily reference what to say when your kid asks the question.

• NEWLY ADDED Primary Topics in a Jar (for ages 5-7) activity gives you an easy way to talk about bodies, babies, friendships and growing-up using 30 age-appropriate questions and answers

Should Parents Be Naked in Front of Their Kids?

Recently, I was interviewed for this article on The Bump. I share my expert advice alongside psychologists and parents to offer guidance on how to decide what’s right for you and your family.

Are you concerned about the appropriateness of being naked in front of your kids? If so, check it out!

The Feelings Wheel

Last week on the socials (video below), I talked about how I was sharing my emotions with my kids in 2. Meaning I would explain the primary emotion I was feeling and the underlying emotion that was also in my body. This way I could model to my kids that it’s OK to feel 2 different emotions at the same time and that is normal and common.

Here’s the Feelings Wheel that is interactive to help you or your child their vocabulary beyond the basic emotions.

My Resources & Book Recommendations are Found Here

Thank you for being here & getting prepared to answer your kid’s sex questions!

If you’ve got a question or topic that you’d like to see discussed here next week, reply to this email!

💕Kathleen