Where reproduction is to be taught as part of the curriculum, children will be expected to understand the following areas:
5–7 years old
- how animals and humans reproduce, and how their young grow into adults
- how to be familiar with external parts of both the male and female human body
- how to recognise similarities and differences, and to treat others with sensitivity
- learning about the growth and reproduction processes common to humans and other animals
- stages of the human life cycle
- learning how the fusion of a male and a female cell causes fertilisation
- the physical and emotional changes that take place all through puberty
- the menstrual cycle and how it relates to human reproduction
- how a foetus develops in the uterus
- how hormonal control occurs, and how sex hormones affect the body
- how hormones are used medically, including how they control and aid fertility.
- how sex is determined in humans
- To provide precise information about human sexuality
- To provide opportunities for young people to question, discover and evaluate their sexual attitudes in order to recognize their own values, to increase self-worth and to understand their obligations and responsibilities towards others
- To help young people develop interpersonal skills, including communication, decision–making, forcefulness and peer refusal skills
- To help young people exercise responsibility regarding sexual relationships, including addressing abstinence, learning how to resist pressures to become prematurely involved in sexual behaviors and encouraging the use of contraception and other sexual health measures.
Children have to be taught about their sexuality and the body parts that are gender specific. It is also important to teach them what changes they can expect in the near future or when they reach the puberty stage. Teaching them the roles and functions of each body part will also serve as a good framework in teaching them about the reproduction process.
Young children are likely to ask how they were born and how they came to be. These are good signs as to when parents can introduce to their children about the reproduction system and the process of conception. Depending upon their ages, parents can carefully explain every stage and what exactly happens in each of them.
And once it is clear to the children how babies are born, the concepts of love, courtship, and familiarity come next. These concepts anticipate the child’s social interactions, mostly to the persons of the opposite sex. It is okay to tell children that some emotions are normal. An open communication between child and parent is essential, especially when they reach this age.
Children past the puberty stages usually undergo first hand experiences about relationships. They will already have well–developed bodies and are most of them are likely to go out on dates and social gatherings. Parents must advise their children that abstaining from sexual relations at an early age is for their good, it is therefore important that these values are inculcated in them at a young age. On the other hand, young adults need to be educated on the use of contraceptives, as to why and when they have to be used. Parental guidance is very important.
Sex education does not necessarily have to be taught in one go. It is a gradual and evolving process. The schools and the community the children belong to should participate in the process of teaching young adults about sexual health. Parents are not alone anymore in tackling this rather difficult and awkward topic. Then again, it is still the parents’ responsibility that their teenager receives and accept only the right information.