What age is appropriate to give the sex talk?

Question

I have an 8 year old we have not given any talks or anything about sex or anything regarding sex. We recently had a doctors appointment
And he's not circumsized so I was unaware that he needed to pull the skin back other than when he washes so she was telling him to tug gently and stuff like that when he's in the shower so this made me think maybe I need to talk to him about it but I never did before because I thought he was still to young but also know he  has questions about were babies come from so maybe I should but don't know how to approach it. Is 8 still to young?

Answer

I don't have kids of my own, so take this for what it's worth: I've always felt that if they're old enough to ask the question, they are old enough to get an answer. At 8, I would talk to him about the basics. If it helps, stick to the hygiene aspect for now, since that is the issue at hand. Again, not a parent, so ymmv

Answer

We learned the basics of babies and puberty in school in 5th grade (I was 10). That seemed appropriate considering a few girls had already started puberty and the boys would harass them. So we were all taught the baby basics together, and separate when it came to girl-specifics (periods/etc) and boy specifics. My mom said I started asking certain questions (sex and blow jobs if I remember right) at 7 or 8, and that probably stemmed from the sleepover at a friend's where she said "look what my parents do late at night, teehee", and proceeded to point out the keyhole or crack, whatever it was that we looked through. So yeah, I'd say that was ideal...answering questions I had until age 10, then getting an official sciency lesson on babies/puberty at 10 (whether by parents or school).

I think I was 12 or 13 when, in health class, we started learning more detailed info about sex, contraception methods, ovulation, the basics of std's and so on. And then the next year's health class continued the discussion by getting way more in depth on std's, pregnancy, giving birth.

I think it's better to get this things in the open before they start learning from friends, who may feed them all sorts of wrong info they'll believe. The second they start asking things is the second you start answering in an age appropriate way...so that they'll be able to retain the info. You don't want them to zone out because you got too technical, or too in depth, and so they hear nothing you said & continue to go with what their friends told them.

Answer

I got "the talk" in individual little increments. I think the older you are, the more curious you become about certain things. So it's best to gradually have this talk as your child's curiosity gets larger.

Answer

Dang! 8? I think that's crazy young but nowadays, kids know this and that and it's crazy to believe they do so when they do ask, then I guess you should answer? If he ask where babies come from, I would say "they come from two special people who are meant for each other who love each other very much like no other".

Answer

I'm 13 now, and my parents have been really open about everything since I was really little. I think it's really helped growing up knowing all this. It makes all the "hard" questions not so hard. I know I can talk to my parents about anything. I say talk about it whenever they start asking any kind of questions.

Answer

too young, but he should find out from you before he finds out from friends

Answer

My daughter will be ten in a few weeks. She just recently asked so I decided to tell her. I always figured I would decide whether to tell her or not at the time she asked depending on her. I decided she could handle it, so I told her. I think it all depends on you and your child. If you think your child will understand, than I say go for it.

Answer

I would give my children the talk when they hit puberty.

Answer

My sister found out what sex was at the age of 9 from a friend at school. I know many women don't agree with telling your kid at the age of 8 but what they have to understand is that times are changing. Young children know what sex and if you don't talk to them about it someone else will. I say start off with the basics and when he he's ready to talk about it or has questions that's when you go a little further into the topic.

Answer

I never asked, I already knew. And wasn't interested in sex or anything till.i way 18. But better to tell them earlier but in little doses since he is so so young.

What age is appropriate to give the sex talk?

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