Conservative-ish family needs to tell 9 year old about birds and bees

[Anonymous]

I know, I know, we've been putting it off except to say you need a mom and a dad but he jsut now started asking how he got in mom's stomach. Is "It's not the stork" still a good book rec? I"m more comfortable reading a book than freestyling it.

[Anonymous]

It's not the stork is still good. At least teach the child the baby is not in the stomach! The baby is not being eaten!

[Anonymous]

Make it medical and clinical. What does being conservative/religious have to do with it? Kids should know about their proper body parts.

Elizabeth Smart talks about coming from a very conservative family and how she was so traumatized trying to explain what happened to her. And she says that she never wants her kids to feel shame it just knowing their body parts and their names.

It’s not shameful to have body parts.

[Anonymous]

What does conservative have to do with it? It’s science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not the stork is still good. At least teach the child the baby is not in the stomach! The baby is not being eaten!

I know, I know. We have taught him body parts like always called it penis and not wee wee or whatever people say. I just don’t remember learning about this as a child myself until health class.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for doing it. 4th and 5th graders talk about it on the bus and share all sorts of wrong info. Take the clinical/ matter of biology track. It'll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Keep it matter of fact and light. Do t make it seem like some gloomy, shameful secret. Acknowledge that it sounds kinda strange but that it’s normal biology and actually kind of miraculous. If your kid has seen nature shows of animals doing their “special wrestling,” you could refer to that to show that most animals mate. Be sure to include references to consent, affection, and communications as part of what humans do in this context.

Let us know how it goes and share any tips or suggestions you have after you go through this!

[Anonymous]

11:32 again. I forgot to add that you should make sure your child knows they can come to you at ANY TIME with questions or if they want to discuss it more. Be open and relaxed. It’s a lot for a kid to take in, and he may want to absorb it in steps. Also, as a PP suggested, please make sure to teach him basic female anatomy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does conservative have to do with it? It’s science.

It's easy to just dunk on an OP but it's clear she just means they are t openly looking to talk about this stuff as some families may be. I would put myself in that category and my parents didn't have this conversation with me so I don't have an obvious blueprint. OP is looking for ideas and there have been some good suggestions in the thread.

Conservative doesn't have to mean politically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does conservative have to do with it? It’s science.

NP but I browsed my local library for a kid-friendly book like this and every single one had been published post-2020 and included some stuff about choosing your gender. I am not interested in teaching my kid anything like this, I want to keep it strictly scientific. So maybe she is looking for a book recommendation that doesn’t include that commentary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does conservative have to do with it? It’s science.

NP but I browsed my local library for a kid-friendly book like this and every single one had been published post-2020 and included some stuff about choosing your gender. I am not interested in teaching my kid anything like this, I want to keep it strictly scientific. So maybe she is looking for a book recommendation that doesn’t include that commentary.

Every single book?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does conservative have to do with it? It’s science.

NP but I browsed my local library for a kid-friendly book like this and every single one had been published post-2020 and included some stuff about choosing your gender. I am not interested in teaching my kid anything like this, I want to keep it strictly scientific. So maybe she is looking for a book recommendation that doesn’t include that commentary.

I just meant conservative, not in the political sense, as a PP said above. But no I don’t want to even introduce the whole changing gender idea during elementary years. I don’t want to normalize it or present it as an option, is that political now?? I would never advocate for intolerance but I don’t want to talk about it with children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does conservative have to do with it? It’s science.

NP but I browsed my local library for a kid-friendly book like this and every single one had been published post-2020 and included some stuff about choosing your gender. I am not interested in teaching my kid anything like this, I want to keep it strictly scientific. So maybe she is looking for a book recommendation that doesn’t include that commentary.

Every single book?

Yes, every single book. I checked them all. Our public library has been pretty much purged of older books.

[Anonymous]

Both my kids liked It’s not the stork. It does talk about same sex parents-do depending how conservative you mean this may or may not work further you.

I do think it’s meant for younger kids, so one if the follow in books (it’s so amazing or it’s perfectly normal) might be a better fit. Again, they touch on topics that not every family may be comfortable with, so I’d find some reviews if you have concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does conservative have to do with it? It’s science.

OP probably wants to give as little info as possible and doesn't feel comfortable saying words like uterus and vagina and sperm . Certainly isn't going to explain the whole "family can look all different ways" concept or talk about gay dads with kids or gay moms with kids, etc.