The real question is how much do you tell them?
\nEducational psychologist, Colleen Johnson, suggests that the amount of information given to their child should be based on the child’s age and what they already know.
\n“Before answering the question, parents need to assess what their child is asking and how much they already know,” she says.
\nJohnson adds that parents should focus more on bodily changes and keep the conversation light.
\n“It is better to use the correct, clinical words for body parts,” she says.
\nShe suggests that parents be as literal as possible when answering their child’s questions but without giving too much information.
\nIf your child is between the ages of four and six, Johnson says that parents should use phrases such as “mommy carried you in her tummy until you were ready to come out” or “daddy put a seed in mommy’s tummy”.
\n“Children between the ages of six and seven have already started school and may have a basic understanding of what sexual intercourse is.
\n“At this stage parents should teach their children how sexual intercourse is about love and connecting with a person, again using proper terminology.
\n“If your child is older, she says that parents should introduce topics such as rape, and teach their children that it is not right to force another person to have sexual intercourse.
\n“As your child gets older, teach them that their bodies may be ready, but their emotions may not be, and that they should only make this decision when they are ready to cope with the emotional and physical consequences.”<\/p>\n