Sex Education for Grades 3-5

General Tips

  • ·        When answering questions, I like to say “hmm, tell me more about what you mean?”  or “what have you heard” to clarify what they are really asking and why.  Then I answer their question as matter of factly as I can and then stop.  If they want to know more details or information they usually ask.  Or I say “do you have more questions”?  I like this approach versus launching into everything I want them to know in one sitting.  They usually can’t absorb it all and might not be ready for that much detail, but just had a specific thing they wanted to know. 
  • ·        Ask questions and listen rather than simply sharing information, this will help set the tone having conversations with your child instead of it feeling like a lecture.
  • ·        Typically I say the car is a GREAT place for conversations, particularly because you don’t have to make direct eye contact, which can help reduce the awkwardness for both of you.  This can be especially helpful for the tween/teen years.  However, in this moment try having a conversation while taking walk in the neighborhood, wearing a mask could also help hide any initial facial response you may have to some unexpected questions J
  • ·        Movie nights or watching TV shows together can be a great way to have conversations, especially since you can frame discussion around the characters. 

 

Books aimed at elementary school age kids (and their parents): 

  1. The Fantastic Body: What Makes You Tick & How You Get Sick by Howard Bennett
  2. Celebrate Your Body by Sonya Renee Taylor and Bianca I. Laureano
  3. Care and Keeping of You by Valorie Schaefer and Josee Masse
  4. Care and Keeping of You 2 by Cara Natterson and Josee Masse
  5. Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys by Cara Natterson and Micah Player
  6. It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies,Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health
    by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley
  7. Sex is a Funny Word: A Book about Bodies, Feelings, and YOU by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth

 

Online Resources and Websites for Parents and Youth

  1. www.amaze.org (ages 9-14) and www.amaze.org/jr (ages 4-9)

This site has terrific short videos (often funny) that students can watch on their own, with an adult, or as part of class lesson. Plus there are resources for teachers and parents. Made by American non-profit groups Advocates for Youth, Answer and Youth + Tech + Health as a free learning resource, videos, toolkits and lesson plans aim to help parents, educators and health care providers discuss sex and sexuality with young people. There are more than 100 short animated videos addressing everything from puberty to masturbation to contraception.

  1. https://sexedschool.ca/

Sex-Ed School is an eight-episode web series and online resource designed for kids aged 9-12.

Validating curiosity gives parents an opportunity to bond with kids and encourages trust and ongoing discussion.

In Sex-Ed School, dialogue is normalized in a classroom setting – each episode feels like a live recording and kids are given the opportunity to voice their questions to adults. Topics range from gender and orientation to social media and online safety, and occasionally feature guests who speak about real-life experiences.

  1. Video on understanding consent for kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3nhM9UlJjc
  2. HPV Vaccine: The Sooner, the Better for Peace of Mind
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zeue9sCKfng&t=8s
  3. SIECUS recently put out a wonderful article with resources for Homeschool Style Sex Ed Resources:  https://siecus.org/homeschool-style-sex-ed-resources/

For more information, please contact Janet Max at jleopoldmax@gmail.com.