Importance Of Providing Sexual Education To Children And Teenagers

EEH315 Teaching Sexuality and Relationship Education

The need for discussing sexuality with children and teenagers

One of the major problems that the parents of the present times face is regarding the manner in which they should provide the right kind of knowledge or information to their children about sexuality (Corona et al., 2016). The right of sexuality knowledge can help the children as well as the teenagers in a significant manner whereas inadequate knowledge about the same can scar or alter the course of the life of these teenagers or children for the rest of their lives (Robinson, Smith & Davies, 2017). This paper will discuss about the importance of talking or conveying the required information to the children or teenagers about sexuality.

The concepts of sex and sexuality are generally considered as taboos and it is a reflection of this particular fact that the parents as well as the children are not comfortable about discussing these topics. However, a subjective discussion about these concepts are of utmost importance for the children especially with their parents since sexuality and sex have a direct impact not only on the character but on the identity of the children and at the same time have the potential to impact their lives in a significant manner. The website healthychildren.org (2018) thus states that in the discussions that the parents undertake with the children regarding sex and sexuality the parents need to emphasize on the concept of love and should refrain from using too many “don’ts”. On the contrary, the website https://www.halton.ca (2018) states that provide information to the children regarding masturbation, birth control measures, protection and others at a very stage would help the children or the teenagers in a significant manner. This is likely to help the help the children as well as teenagers to get an effective idea about the various safety measures that they need to take into effective consideration but at the same time is likely to provide them with the right kind of knowledge or information which would be of much help to them.

The website www.cdc.gov (2018) states that one of the major problems that the parents face during the various discussions that they undertake with their children regarding the topic of sexuality as well as sex is the fact that the discussions often tend to become uncomfortable. However, at the same time the website states that the discussions about sexuality as well as sex do not have to be comfortable rather they should try to achieve to the main purpose of such discussions, that it, to provide the right kind of information to the children and the teenagers about the topic of sexuality.

The significance of providing accurate information early

Fuzzell et al. (2016) are of the viewpoint that the sexuality of an individual can be defined as the manner in which the concerned individual expresses himself or herself sexually. Furthermore, this is a completely personal thing and has more to do with the sexual orientation as well as the feelings of the concerned individual rather than any set pattern or style. However, in the present times it is seen that several broad demarcations or segregations have gained prominence like homosexual, heterosexual and others (Bowling, Dodge & Bartelt, 2017). In addition to this, it is seen that a person who tries to deviate from the general trend set by the society and the individuals in it has to face various kinds of stigmatizations as well as discrimination (Sevilla et al., 2016). In the light of this particular fact it becomes important for the parents and the other family of the children to provide them with the right kind of knowledge and information so that they have a clear idea about the concept of sexuality and at the same time do not end up making erroneous decisions or actions. Furthermore, children as well as teenagers often like to try out new things or experiment with different and these can have serious repercussions which can scar them for the rest of their lives (Morawska et al., 2015). In addition to these, the sexual related diseases are increasing in an exponential and to add to these most of these sexual related disease are terminal and the effective treatment for them have not been invented till now (Morawska et al., 2015). Thus, it becomes all the more important for the parents to provide the right kind of knowledge to the children as well as the teenagers which is likely to not only provide them with the right kind of knowledge or information about the concept of sexuality but will at the same time ensure their safety as well.

There are various kinds of problems that the parents as well as the children are likely to face during the various discussions that they undertake with the children as well as teenagers about the concept of sexuality. The major problem that the majority of the parents during such discussions is the fact that these discussions often tend to become uncomfortable and this is one of the main reasons that there are various parents who refrain from indulging in such kind of discussions with the children (Ringrose, 2016). However, the majority of the authors are of the viewpoint that even though the discussions tend to be uncomfortable the parents need to have them with the children as well as the teenagers since it is likely to impact the lives of the children in a significant manner (Fuzzell et al., 2016). Furthermore, at the same time the parents need to make the children understand the concepts of love, loyalty, respect for the partners and others (Carroll, 2018). It is significant to note that the children at tender ages often like to try out various new things. However, these new things often leave a lasting mark on the lives of the children and can even alter their lives in a significant manner (Carroll, 2018). It is in the light of this particular fact that the various discussions that the parents undertake with their children regarding the topic of sexuality gain special significance.

Challenges faced by parents in sexual discussions

There are various factors or different kind of information that the parents need to provide to the children as well as the teenagers during the various discussions that they undertake related to sexuality. It is significant to note that the stage of teenage is such that the individuals undergo significant amount of changes not only in terms of their physical body but at the same time emotionally as well (Suleiman, Lin & Constantine, 2016). The parents thus need to provide effective knowledge to the children about the changes that the teenagers or the children would be experiencing during this particular stage of their life. It is pertinent to note that providing effective knowledge to the children about the changes that they would encounter at this particular stage is likely to help them to understand not only the changes that are undergoing but at the same the reasons for which they are undergoing the changes in a much more effective manner (Suleiman, Lin & Constantine, 2016). This is likely to help the children or the teenagers overcome the anxiety as well as the shameful feelings that they normally encounter during this particular stage of their lives because of the physical and the emotional changes that they undergo. In addition to this, providing information to the children about the various birth control as well as the safety measures is likely to help them in a significant manner. For example, this is likely to help them overcome the problem of unwanted pregnancies and others and at the same time it is also likely to help them to keep themselves safe during the various sexual acts that they normally indulge in (Corona et al., 2016). This is important especially in the light of the ever increasing number of sexually transmitted diseases that the children and the other individual are prone to in the present times.

The most important fact that the parents need to convey to the children as well as the teenagers is the fact that they should encourage the children to go ahead with their natural sexual inclinations rather than just following the stereotypical systems which the society has put into place (Carroll, 2018). The parents thus need to make the children realize the fact that it is alright to go ahead and follow their normal sexual inclinations but they need to ensue the fact that the practices which they are indulging into is completely safe and at the same time is not harming them in any manner.

Factors to consider while discussing sexuality with children

Conclusion

To conclude, sexuality is an integral part of the lives of the individuals and to a large extent determines the identity of a particular individual. It is significant to note that this is a completely personal thing and is the manner in which a particular individual decides to express himself or herself sexually. The role that the parents as well as family members play in providing the required kind of information to the children as well as the teenagers is a very important one. The parents need to undertake various kind of discussions with the children as well as teenagers so as to provide the right kind of information to them and at the same time ensure the safety of their children.

References 

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Ballonoff Suleiman, A., Lin, J. S., & Constantine, N. A. (2016). Readability of educational materials to support parent sexual communication with their children and adolescents. Journal of health communication, 21(5), 534-543. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10810730.2015.1103334

Bowling, J., Dodge, B., & Bartelt, E. (2017). Sexuality-related communication within the family context: Experiences of bisexual parents with their children in the United States of America. Sex Education, 17(1), 86-102. Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14681811.2016.1238821

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Fuzzell, L., Fedesco, H. N., Alexander, S. C., Fortenberry, J. D., & Shields, C. G. (2016). “I just think that doctors need to ask more questions”: Sexual minority and majority adolescents’ experiences talking about sexuality with healthcare providers. Patient education and counseling, 99(9), 1467-1472. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0738399116302683

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