Children learn about sex from a very young age, even if we don’t talk with them about it. There are many mixed messages in the media about sex and sexuality which can lead to confusion and extra complications – children don’t know what is real and where to get support. Children need time & space to develop their own understanding but instead they are being presented with images and ideas that they may not be emotionally able to deal with.
Sex is one way that some grown-ups show that they love and care about each other. In sex, grown-ups give permission to each other to touch private parts of their bodies.
A baby is made when a sperm and an egg meet in a woman’s body. The baby grows inside the woman’s body for 9 months, until it is ready to come out.
The sperm and egg can meet in different ways. One way is when a man releases sperm from his penis during sex. The sperm goes inside the woman’s uterus, where it meets the egg. They join to make a baby. *There is no need to discuss arousal to a young child, this information can be shared at an older age.
The baby comes out of the vagina.
When the baby is ready to be born, the uterus (where the baby grows) pushes the baby out. This is called labor. The vagina will stretch wide enough for the baby to come out.
That’s what penises do. Penises go hard sometimes and then get soft again. It means it’s working properly.
When a penis gets hard it called an erection. Whats happening is, extra blood from your body is going into the penis. It is a normal and healthy thing for penises to do. It can happen if you have an exciting thought, if you have been rubbing your penis, if you need to wee or sometimes for just no reason.
You can come in if it’s an emergency, but otherwise, we (the parents) like to have some quiet time together. Everyone needs some quiet time and privacy, just like you. If you need to come into our room, please knock and ask first.
In a conversation afterwards, explain that you were having sex. If you have not had that conversation yet, you can say that you were having a special type of snuggle that only grown ups have. Reassure your child that nothing is wrong.
