Children need proper sex education. Here’s why

Today, children know more than we think they know. So, instead of lying to them about issues like sex or shutting them up when they ask questions that are related, we should teach them the truth about them in order to prevent them from being manipulated.   

The average Nigerian cringes at the mention of the word sex, and they try to avoid telling their children about it or teaching them because of the notion that it would give them the licence to become wayward.  

Why do people cringe at the mention of the word, sex?  They act like the word is dirty and don’t like the idea of it. People ignore the word, but indulge in it. There are some people who fight against sex education. On what grounds? They are of the opinion that being taught sex education makes you want sex more than ever before. So, it’s better to avoid the word or anything related, they say. 

But what does education do? It enlightens you, opens your eyes and enables you to differentiate between right and wrong.  

Teaching your children about this and making them familiar with this topic is important as it takes them a step higher than those that might want to manipulate them.    

A wise man once told a story. It was the story of a woman who was overly protective of her daughter and never gave her the right sex education. Every time her daughter came back from school or an outing, her mother will put an egg in her vagina to see if no one had sex with her while she was away.  And all her daughter knew was, “Don’t have sex, or else, mummy will perform her mini sex surgery on you”. Her mum also taught her to run away from boys because if they touched her, she’d get pregnant. Then something happened. Her mom died and less than a month later, she got pregnant. Something, just maybe, could have averted the experience. It is proper sex education.  

Over the years, parents shy away from educating their children about sex or give adulterated sex education because they believe that it plants the idea of sex in their minds before time, and makes them want to have sex. This is not true. Children are pretty innocent and when you teach them about sex that early there is no struggle or conflict to either accept what you said against something else that they have in mind.   

There’s a term referred to as “Tabula Rasa” which explains that children’s minds are a blank slate upon which experiences are written. So, the earlier the better. It’s safer to let them know about their body parts, and other basic things that they should know about sex.  

Remember, children would eventually grow up to be teenagers and adults. Let them grow up with the right mentality about sex.   

Which would you rather go for? Teach your children proper sex education, or allow them learn directly or indirectly from people that know next to nothing about sex? Choose.  

When you teach children about sex, it will make them comfortable with the topic and empower them to make the right decisions about sex and they would not have to cringe like other adults currently do. When they know they will be able to say no.  

We need sex educators across all spheres to provide straight forward and factual information about sex, and also give answers to questions which may arise.   

Why sex education?   

1. Healthy productive journey  

It is all to an end that children have an overall healthy reproductive journey in life; one that makes them happy. If you want everyone to accept the truth of sex education, start to talk about it. You want people to accept sex education, start to talk about it.  

2. Power   

Ever heard the saying, “Information is power”? When children know and can differentiate right from wrong, they will be empowered to say no to demands that do not align with the knowledge that they have. The will to say no is birthed by knowledge. And you know that children are innocent and will never say yes when they mean otherwise.  

3. Mentality   

It straightens your mentality about sex. There are distorted beliefs regarding sex that need to be debunked by the right information. When someone with the right mindset to sex teaches children, it would rub off on them negatively.   

4. Confidence  

Sex education builds confidence in children. They cannot be easily intimidated by people who think that they can take advantage of them because they seem naive.  

5. Human right  

Olivia Rich once said, “Everyone should know about sex, it is their right. They’ve got reproductive organs. So, they can know that much at least.”  

Should sex education be taught in schools?  

Should sex education be taught in schools across all levels? This is to avoid the dangers of not being sexually aware. Who should learn about sex? Everyone who has blood flowing in their veins. Who should teach sex education? Parents and teachers should. None of us should leave it to another.   

Ask yourself the questions below and give yourself honest answers based on personal experiences or the experiences of people around you.   

• What are the dangers of not being sexually aware?   

• Why do people cringe at sex education?   

• Why do they resist the subject matter?  

Everyone needs sex education   

We have talked about the need to have sex education. However, people are not receptive to the fact that it’s a need. Deep down in their subconscious, it’s a topic that should not be spoken about, at least not with confidence or in public. They believe it has to be spoken about in secret and no one should be outspoken about it.   

Today, in our society, it is easier for people across all age groups to access porn than proper sex education. If we had every child learn about sex education the right way, the world would be a better place. No unwanted pregnancy. No STIs. No manipulation from the opposite gender or same gender and so much more dangers we could be free from.   

Conclusively, parents should not shy away from proper sex education. Children deserve to know the basic things. However, it is important to know where to draw the line.