How to teach kids about sex: parents’ guide to talking with children and how Hong Kong schools are dropping the ball
With so much misinformation out there, parents need to provide proper sex education to their children. But when cultural and social factors get in the way, fostering a healthy attitude that carries on into adulthood can be a challenge
My daughter asked her first question about sex when she was about 11 years old. She made no bones about her curiosity and blurted out, “What’s an orgasm?”
I was surprised, but not shocked. I respected her directness so I gave an answer in an age-appropriate way. I told her to think about eating her favourite food, which was chocolate, and then imagine having the same wonderful sensation all over herself. Half satisfied with my answer, she said, “Oh, that’s messy!” before returning to watching a cartoon.
Answering our children’s questions about sex is a responsibility bigger than most of us think, but many parents dread that first moment. Like most parents, I felt slightly tongue-tied at first, but the awkwardness gradually faded when I got into the habit of giving my daughter regular talks about puberty and various topics on sex, including how it’s “done” and pornography.
The subject of sex should never be avoided with children, especially when there is so much information and misinformation out there. Parents have a responsibility to provide proper guidance to their children. By talking about sex with their kids they can help foster a healthy attitude and feelings about the subject.
In Hong Kong, we often hear complaints about the lack of sex education at school and at home. But is there really a problem? The answer is a resounding “yes”, according to Bau Chung Sze-wan, sex educator and registered social worker.
“I think the main problems regarding sexuality education in the Hong Kong education system is the lack of quantity and quality, as well as finding the right approach and correct way to deliver the message,” she says.