Forum Index
»
Infants, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
What is a good age for "The Talk"
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
| My 6 yr old son has been asking a lot of questions regarding how does daddy's blood get inside his children. I've been putting off the conversation by telling him that I absolutely promise to tell him everything when he is a little older (btw, he is a big mouth so as soon as I tell him I expect it to be shared with all his friends). What is a good age? 7? 8? |
Anonymous
| Now, because he's asking. There's no right age for it. Just an age-appropriate way of presenting the material. |
Anonymous
|
that's so sad that the child is asking and you keep putting him off. he'll learn to look for advice elsewhere...
YOU answer his questions when HE ASKS unless you want him to learn from other people... |
Anonymous
|
Right now. Best not to set the tone that this is a "taboo" question -- if he asks, he wants to know. Give him as much information as he asks for, and don't skimp on the science if he probles. It's biology. And you can infuse values into the conversation, too, if you like. But the truth is, people can make babies even when they're not married or in love or adults or ... well, you get the idea. I knew about how babies were made by the time I was in kindergarten, and it never was a strange thing to know so early. Mum is a doctor, and I was the first born, so it was totally normal to haul out the "Greys Anatomy" textbook and ask questions.
My DD is exactly three and I'm pregnant with her sister at the moment. She knows plenty for her age: a baby is in mommy's tummy. It takes a little bit of the woman and a little bit of the man to make the baby in there. I've said the words "sperm" and "egg" but she seemed not very interested in the vocabulary so I just left it at "some of the mommy" and "some of the daddy." And I promised her if she wants to know more, she can always ask. And she's seen pictures of the ultrasound, her ultrasound, and those etherial pictures of fetuses in that book, what's it called: "A Child Is Born" or something like that. All this, I hope, sets the expectation that this isn't a cloaked, hush-hush subject. |
Anonymous
| Wait until he asks you what a blow job is. My DS asked me when he was 11. |
Anonymous
|
My 8 year old asked me what "rape" was. OMG!
|
Anonymous
|
right now, age appropriate information.
Generally kids at that age accept a simple explanation (don't have to tell them everything now) and will ask questions if they want to know more but usually the simple explanation satisfies them. |
Anonymous
|
15:46 great answer.
I've tried to answer my three year olds questions as fully as possible without telling her more than she really wants to know. I say get over your anxiety about it and talk about it. I think looking at some age appropriate books might gives you the words to talk about it comfortably. |
Anonymous
| Age appropriate explanations as soon as they ask. |
Anonymous
|
Get him this book and read it together:
http://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-Stork-Families-Friends/dp/0763633313/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_c The next book in the series is for ages 7+, so maybe pick that one up at the same time: http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-About-Sperm-Babies-Families/dp/0763600512/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1282700895&sr=8-1 |
Anonymous
What did you tell him? Tell us, tell us. Thanks. |
aprilmayjune
Member Offline
Member Offline
| I only have a two year old so I am reading these answers just as you are.. but I know that my mom explained it allll to me when I was 8 in a not very age appropriate manner, and it left me with a LOT of questions... so just make sure that you do it in a way that is answering questions, and not necessarily creating more that you don't think they are ready for you to answer.. |
Anonymous
|
What's age appropriate?
My 3 yo is asking questions and I do answer her. I assume I'm doing it in an "age appropriate" manner but she's my only. So, how do I know? I have no clue what other parents are telling their kids or if what I'm saying is in line with that. |
Anonymous
| LOL this reminds me of the time my 5-year-old wanted to know how babies get out of their mommies' tummies - she asked while we were in rush hour traffic, of course! |
Anonymous
|
Personally, I think 6 is too young to know. So give a simple reply like, the baby is born after the parents get married, and the baby is both like mommy and daddy.
FWIW, my mom gave me the full talk at age 7, and I think that was too young. |