Topic: When to Start Sex Education [Sunday March 15, 2015]
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6
Educating your children about sex is very important, especially in this age and time where the issue of rape and sexual abuse are very prevalent. Children tend to learn immoral behaviours from the media or other environments and with some adults getting more perverse by the day, the need for sexual education cannot be underemphasized.
Asking a few questions on when the best time is to bring up this topic, people have their various opinions and reasons. While some think at age ten because they are more matured to understand the topic, others think children aged three also need to know some tips on how to protect themselves against the evils of the day.
Educating your child on sex related issues depends on the child’s ability to understand. Sex education is making a child aware of him/her sexually, how different or unique the child is from the other gender, and how to understand the changes that would come as he/she grows.
Averaging the results of the above, I would propose that sex education begins at age five. This is because children differ, and while some develop rapidly, others tend to be slower in terms of comprehending such issues. At this stage, the child is still tender and innocent, and might not have been exposed to anything negative. This will make it easier to imprint your knowledge in his/her mind.
Also, children at this age generally have developed the ability to differentiate between good and bad. More so, they will be more alert to follow through on their new knowledge gained, when the need arises. As an adage says, “a stitch in time saves nine”; meaning, it is better to make them aware now than to deal with regrets in the future. Receive wisdom to handle your children in the name of Jesus!
Remain Blessed!
Pastor Faith Abiola Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.
Click HERE to read other Daily Devotional written by Pastor Faith Oyedepo
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