Comments on: Sex education and the young ones

By: Liz

Liz — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:25:20 +0000

Thanks for your reply! I guess this is one of those places where there may be more than one reasonable approach. My kids (now 5 and 7) have known since they were much, much younger that the baby grows in the mommy’s womb or uterus and that food is digested in the stomach — it first came up when my elder child was two and I was pregnant. They also know, and use correctly, the term ‘vulva,’ much to the surprise of many people, including their pediatrician.

Then again, we have a six-year-old friend with a central line that sends I.V. nutrition into her bloodstream and a g-tube that puts formula feeds into her stomach, so my kids may be more aware than most that there are different parts on the inside, too.

Anyway, thanks for your response.

By: Mrs. Y

Mrs. Y — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:32:35 +0000

I agree. The older they get, the more anatomically precise you need to get. Karen, this is a good post, thanks!

By: karenrayne

karenrayne — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:10:53 +0000

Hi Liz,

I agree with you about penis and vagina certainly (and don’t forget the difference between the vagina and the vulva), but I don’t put so much emphasis on where in the mother’s body a baby grows.

The issue with the correct words for children’s external anatomy is that they can see it and experience it. This is really quite different than an internal anatomy lesson, which I just don’t feel is important for young children - remember, we’re talking 8 and younger here. There are a lot of things about our internal anatomy that younger children don’t understand. My 3-year-old thinks food disappears after she eats it. She laughs hysterically when we suggest that it goes down into her tummy.

So yes, as children get older and closer to puberty, it is important to give them the correct names for their internal parts - no one wants a mestruating girl to think she’s bleeding out of her stomach!

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:51:40 +0000

I agree that matter-of-fact answers are appropriate for kids. I also feel that the use of euphemisms does them a disservice (your use of the words ‘penis’ and ‘vagina’ makes me think you agree). I would therefore recommend that kids not be told a baby grows in the woman’s tummy — I know of at least one child who was afraid his mom had somehow eaten something to make his baby brother. Instead, I’d recommend saying “inside the woman,” or “in the woman’s uterus” (or, if not comfortable saying ‘uterus,’ then use ‘womb.’). When asked, it is possible to answer “the uterus is a place inside the woman, connected to the vagina, where babies grow.” and leave it at that. “Tummy,” though, is too close to “sTOMach” and likely to give the impression that mommy may digest the baby at any moment.