5 tips for successful homeschool sex education
After the so-called Easter holidays, 807,000 children missed their first formative relationships and sex education (RSE) class at school – and that’s just the Year 6s. So we created some free lesson plans for ages 4 to 11+ and for ages 11 to 16+ to better equip parents to DIY these topics at home – from puberty and body image to consent and porn.
If the school biology teacher thought they had it rough, parents up and down the country are wondering how on earth to give their kids the sex ed they deserve. Here’s what we’ve learned...
1. Stay positive
Fear is part of the job description for parents, but it’s not always helpful to lay your protective instincts on too thick. For years sex education has been all about the risks: STIs and unwanted pregnancy. But we know now that when sex education focuses on abstinence – on avoiding or delaying sex – it can be counterproductive.
Try to meet your child where they are, in the real world. Trust them with the facts (they can find out anyway!) and show some excitement about the love and happiness that could lie in store for them
2. Listen as much as you talk
Asking your child for their opinion is one of the best ways we know to strike up a productive conversation. What relationships advice would they give a younger friend? Where do they stand on trans rights and toilets in school? How would most people feel about being asked for a nude photo?
