New research by Mums Show Live!, a new exhibition targeted at parents with 4-12-year-olds, found that fathers get embarrassed when it comes to the topic of the "birds and the bees", and that parents think age 10 is the right time to start sex education for their children.
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Here, Justin Hancock, who will be speaking at Mums Show Live! and runs the Bish training sex education site, has the following tips for tackling birds and the bees questions:
1. Although parents in this survey say they would like their kids to be around 10 when they have the birds and the bees chat, sex and relationships education often begins before that.
Talking about body differences, different kinds of relationships (friendships, family), learning how to say no and who to ask if you need help is all 'sex' education and can happen from a very early age.
2. Think of talking to children about sex as less of 'a talk' but more of a series of conversations over the course of a child's life. Little and often is the best way to deal with it.
This will help boost your confidence when you’re talking about it - making it less of a big deal for the both of you.
3. Ever chatted about a storyline in a TV programme? Or talked about a child's friendship at school? Or had a conversation about what is right and wrong?
That can be sex education. Pin your ears back and listen for opportunities to have a conversation rather than a lecture.
4. When giving information try to use terms that are accurate but also easy for your child to understand. It's better, for instance, to use accurate terms for body parts rather than euphemisms that only you and your family understand.
Some things will just go over their heads so ask them if they understand what you have taught them.
5. Whatever age your child is when they ask a sex-related question, make sure you answer it. This will ensure they don’t think they’ve asked the wrong question, or it’s something to be embarrassed by.
It’s very common for young children to be aware of their body parts - so if they ask what it is and what it’s for – try and answer without feeling embarrassed.