By Amarachi Onyemma, News/Comments
LAGOS-Over the years, the issue of sex education in African communities has been a topic that has generated several side talks and reactions. The question has been, at what age is proper to give a child the required orientation about sex? Sex education is a critical component of a child’s development that requires special attention. Sex education is the process of gathering information about one’s sexuality. It attempts to give individuals the sense and knowledge he or she desires while also assisting the individual in developing healthy attitudes and behaviours towards sex. It is usually delivered through official education programmes in schools, community-based efforts, and family discussions.
Sex education differs by country and location; while there is no single ‘perfect’ age for sex education, it is critical to consider cultural and community norms while deciding the appropriate strategy needed for enlightenment.
Sexuality is traditionally regarded as a private subject in many African countries, and conversations about sex are sometimes considered taboo topics. As a result, sex education is frequently not clear or direct, but rather taught through stories, songs, and cultural rituals that reinforce traditional beliefs and conventions regarding sexuality. In certain communities, children may not get formal sex education until they reach puberty, when they are considered ready to assume adult obligations, including sexual responsibility. Whereas these can have an everlasting effect on a child, some of the effects could be that children may not have a comprehensive understanding of their sexuality, until they are already at risk of becoming sexually active, which can lead to unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Additionally, the taboo nature of sex education in these communities can lead children to feel ashamed or embarrassed about their sexuality, which can impact a child’s self-esteem and ability to talk openly about sexual issues.
Amongst other effects, there are various ways by which parents can educate their children about their sexuality. As parents, it is often advised to start this education once a child is reaching the age of puberty, this is the stage where his/her body begins to go through changes.
We live in a modern age where a young girl or boys are fully conscious of their environment, even before they reach the age of puberty, and are open to sexual molestation by pedophiles. Once you take cognizance of this, you can start educating your children on sex. One shouldn’t assume they already know or are being taught at school to prevent them from being manipulated by their sexual prey.
Sexual education isn’t just about mere warnings like teaching them to stay completely away from the opposite sex or avoid people from touching them on their surface areas as these aren’t comprehensive enough to enhance their knowledge of their sexuality instead they give them the wrong notion about abstinence. Most African parents rely on the school curriculum as the only and proper means of educating a child about their sexuality, whereby they fail to under a popular adage that states “charity begins at home”.
The best time to start educating a child about sex should start at a very young age, once a child starts to talk, as parents, it is your responsibility to make them aware of their sexual organs and the dangers of being touched otherwise by not just the opposite sex but anyone at all, by doing that you begin to create awareness about their sexuality. When they begin to hit puberty age, it is advisable to sit them down and take them through the vital things. Here are a few tips on what to tell your children.
Let them understand the various functions of their sex organs, how reproduction organs work, and what it entails to be sexually active
Sexual intercourse and what happens when this takes place
The dangers of exposing your body to the opposite sex and how to detect when being sexually molested
What molestation entails
What menstruation is all about
Personal hygiene especially during her menstruation.
How to prevent unwanted pregnancies and the dangers of unwanted pregnancies
Contraceptives and how to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
Overall, educating children about sex at the right age is crucial for their physical and emotional well-being, and can help them make informed and responsible choices in the future.
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