What early sex education means

In order for sex education to be all encompassing by the time a person reaches sexual maturity in adolescence, it must start early.

My five-year-old daughter knows that once a month, when the moon is half full, I have my period. She notices the moon as it changes, and often asks me on the days my period comes, or one or two days before or after, if I have started bleeding yet. She knows that the blood would stay inside me to help a baby grow if I were pregnant.

She doesn’t have a concrete understanding of sex yet, but she doesn’t need to. She is starting to understand my body, and by extension what her body will become. That’s what early sex education means.

About Karen Rayne

Dr. Karen Rayne has been supporting parents and families since 2007 when she received her PhD in Educational Psychology. A specialist in child wellbeing, Dr. Rayne has spent much of her career supporting parents, teachers, and other adults who care for children and teenagers.