Sex Education for Children, is it necessary?

By Azys Syaiful Anwar

In Indonesia, sex is still considered as taboo matter to be discussed. Some people think that sex must be about pornography or nudity. As a result, they never think to talk about sex in public, and to their children either. Then, how if children ask parents where is baby origin? Most of people in my community may answer with different point answer, such as it comes from heaven, and the others may ignore their children questions by saying ‘you don’t have to know about that, Son’. These answers may not be a solution for some children having high curiosity of knowledge. The main question in my mind, is it necessary giving children knowledge about sex?

As discussed above, sex is not only about pornography or sexual activity. According to Concise Oxford Dictionary Eleventh Edition, there are two definition of sex:

1. either of the two main categories (male and female) into which humans and most other living things are divided on the basis of their reproductive functions. (1.2) The fact of belonging to one of these categories. (1.3) The group of all members of either sex.

2. sexual activity, specifically sexual intercourse. (euphemistic) A person's genitals.

Regarding those definition, sex also related to male/female reproductive function and some matter related to that. Since sex is still taboo matter in some communities, introducing sex to children is often ignored.

           Parents can start to give understanding about sex to children by explaining about gender. Telling whether your kid is a girl or boy is important to avoid the digression. Parents can start to tell their kid about gender even when their kid is still a baby. For example, if parents have a girl they can give her many girly things. Parents can give girly toys, such as doll, kitchen set toys, etc. This intends to avoid their daughter becoming boyish.

             When children growing older, parents may give them understanding about some matter related to their kid’s genital. Children must know that it is private and they cannot show it in public. Some parents in my community sometimes let their kid walking around without wearing pants, or they even let their kids pee anywhere. However, it is important to habituate kids to wear proper suit.

            Reaching teenage, children may become more complex because they have both childish and adult side. Parents need to emphasize to giving understanding about some puberty indication, including menstruation for a girl, and the difference pitch of voice for a boy. Parents need to guide them wisely. In this age, children also already attracted to their opposite sex. Because of that, parents have to explain that there are some constraints of having relationship with opposite sex. This is to avoid free sex that endangers their reproductive organ. Teach them to avoid free sex is better than advice them to use condom while having a sex intercourse.

26/SEPT/09