Sex Education for 4 year olds !

Haven't yet looked at the detail but we have been teaching this in school for many years. The younger children learn about their bodies names of parts etc changes in adolescence etc are taught in years 5 and 6. As far as I am aware the big change is that it will become compulsory. Previously parents could withdraw their kids from the lessons which meant they either learnt it all in the playground possibly misreported or they went into adolescence unprepared. The lessons are age appropriate.

Children today live in a very different world, and while we want them to embrace new technologies, they do have to be made aware of the dangers too. I'm assuming these lessons will aim to point out to young children what is NOT appropriate , what is dangerous and how to keep themselves safe when using the internet or social media. Sex education needs to go far beyond just teaching about body parts these days.

They're not going to teach them the Karma Sutra.
It's more than likely the scientific element of sperm meeting egg and the explaination of puberty.

And of course the pants rules!

Why would my 4 year old need to know about sperm and eggs Bibbitty ? There is a time and a place for that and 4 years of age isn't it .

He has access to technology but not unsupervised so until he reaches an age where he has access to social media or unfettered access to the Internet it's not necessary .

Why not? Is factual. I'll be explaining it to my children as soon as they ask.
My 2 year old knows him and his sister used to be in my stomach.
The next question is naturally how did they get there.
I'll be explaining in an age appropriate manner what happened.

Well I'm grateful that all 4 of mine have not shown any interest yet . I see no reason to rush them through their childhood. IF they asked their parents would be happy to share age appropriate facts with them .but in my opinion children mature at different rates and this should not be a one size fits all approach .

I disagree it's rushing them through childhood.
Parents are able to opt out of this. But I place it in the same category as head, shoulders, knees and toes.

Actually parents will not be able to opt out .as I understand it, it's compulsory .

They're 4.
If this is in the U.K. Then compulsory education does not start until 5.
So they aren't even obligated to be there full stop.

This is a new initiative announced today I presume that if your 4 year old is in school then this will be a compulsory part of the curriculum. You used to be able to opt out but that choice will not be available and this will apply to religious schools also .

parents could remove the child from school that day and there would be no penalty due to their attendece not being compulsory. I believe they don't even effect ofstead reports until 5 but I know this is a grey area.

However I support the idea.

*Bibbity *"It's more than likely the scientific element of sperm meeting egg and the explaination of puberty." I'm not sure why a 4 year old needs to be taught about puberty, please could you explain?

Because it's a natural occurance that happens to pretty much 100% of people. It's not bad and it's not scary.
Some children start their periods at 9 some at 5.
I believe children should know in a calm and rational manner the facts of what is going to happen to their bodies rather then some terryfyign change happen unexpectedly and not know what the hell is going on.

Children can start their periods at 5? Really? I didn't know that. But even if that's the case, it must be in a very small minority of cases, surely? At 4 years old, a child should be taught about their own bodies - no argument there, but I'm not at all certain that periods; voice changes; accelerated hair growth; growing breasts and human reproduction is necessary or appropriate. But each to their own Bibbity , if that's what you want for your children, fill your boots.

A majority of parents I know share my view now.
Puberty is no longer a taboo subject.
Nothing you listed there would cause me any cause for alarm. If I were to read them on my child's curriculum next to math and spellings I'd be more than happy.
Can you name one negative of learning about those things?

www.theguardian.com/education/2017/feb/27/sex-education-should-tackle-pornography-and-sexting-says-public

Spot the difference between the Guardian and Telegraph headlines.

That's good. I did hear they were going to highlight safe internet use and predators.
However I really think parents need educating more.
To many are allowing their children unsupervised access to devices.

With regards to the lowering of STD rates I read something similar maybe last year where they were going to discuss things like abortions more in the older sex Ed classes to try and remove the tabboo around the subject.
This is so interesting and pleaseinf. Very comforting for me as I begin to send the monsters into education!

I think childhood is for a very short time Bibbity , especially the very young innocent, early years. I completely agree that children should learn about their bodies but that usually happens in a natural way, within the home and family anyway. I have no idea what the curriculum for these sex ed lessons will encompass but, if it was to include menstruation and "wet dreams" at age 4, I'd be uncomfortable with that. But I expect that the curriculum will be "age appropriate " and so I won't get het up about it just yet!

I have to admit then that I just don't understand.
I don't see how any of the above can remove or alter a fun childhood.
I can't imagine someone sitting a 4 year old down explaining the above and after offering them a pair of wellies and the chance or go crazy in the mud and them saying 'oh no I couldn't possibly do that how juvinile I'm so beyond that now'

I don't understand you either Bibbity , so we'll just have to leave it there.

it will really depends on how the head teacher interpratates sex Ed for 4/5/6 years olds I bet you there will be some schools that go the whole 9 yards and yes it can of course affect little kids whose heads should be in fairy land with pretty unicorns saving the day not worrying about wet dreams or menstruation plenty of time for that when they start asking questions

I m not sure how many little ones start their periods at 5 bibbity but I d think a visit to the doctor would be necessary not sex education at school!!

Your last sentence is so flippant I m not sure it deserves an answer

I do hope that it's not going to be called Sex Education in the young classes and what actually do they want to 'teach' a 5 year old

I totally agree with the need to overhaul the content to fit in with modern needs the use of phones, sexting, giving consent and more importantly sexual bullying etc but there is absolutely no need to start at 4 or 5

Young children should know about their bodies and what is appropriate behaviour. I know a case of a 4 year old who was coerced into inappropriate "games" with a 12 year old. This was discovered by her mother and social services became involved. Many abused children don't disclose as they don't know what's happening is wrong. Simple facts about the body, and how to keep yourself safe, always tell someone if you think something is wrong etc.cant be bad surely? Keeping a child "innocent" can mean the same as "ignorant" , that's not a good thing in my opinion.

I think there is a vast difference in what you described to Sex Education for 4/5 year old schools what you have described is a lesson that should have be taught at home by the parents as many 4 year olds aren't in school so that wouldn't have helped
I agree that children should be given as much information as they need WHEN they ask be that 3 4 5 or whatever ages but once it becomes school business the family would have no choice as to what their small child is fed It's the families duty to inform small children in whatever manner they see fit I will reserve judgement until I know what form the 4/5 years olds sex education will be