I'm thrilled to see so many parents are teaching kids about sex from a young age, and being sex-positive about it. My mom was great about this with us (I was the 3 year old telling everyone on the block I had a 'gina). But I was also glad that she didn't focus on virginity or that sex was dirty or in some way bad. I really think these two messages helped me to have a positive and responsible relationship with sex throughout my life. I do remember some parents (I'm 36 and a parent of a toddler, btw) getting mad at my mom for "letting" me be on birth control "early (15 or 16 I think), but I also think that helped me make responsible choices. Our son is 2, but we are already focusing on proper names (penis, a body part, like arm or eye) and hoping he has a really healthy happy relationship with his body as he grows up too.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what I've told my 6 and 8 year-olds: the basic format of it (penis into vagina, seeds come out, meet egg), and that it's nice and fun to do with a special person when you're old enough (in my mind, that's around 16 or 17, so I've told them most people start around when they drive but some people wait until they're married). Sex has been a fun, special part of my life and I hope my kids have the same experience!

That's way too much for that age, and wtf, 16 or 17? Jesus.

Why do you think that's too much for that age? Haven't your kids asked yet? I think knowing those basics by 8 is pretty typical for an inquisitive child who keeps asking questions.

Not that PP but I would disagree with telling/teaching a 6 year old the bolded statement. I can't imagine telling a 1st grader "sex is fun and I hope that you do it too someday!"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what I've told my 6 and 8 year-olds: the basic format of it (penis into vagina, seeds come out, meet egg), and that it's nice and fun to do with a special person when you're old enough (in my mind, that's around 16 or 17, so I've told them most people start around when they drive but some people wait until they're married). Sex has been a fun, special part of my life and I hope my kids have the same experience!

That's way too much for that age, and wtf, 16 or 17? Jesus.

Why do you think that's too much for that age? Haven't your kids asked yet? I think knowing those basics by 8 is pretty typical for an inquisitive child who keeps asking questions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what I've told my 6 and 8 year-olds: the basic format of it (penis into vagina, seeds come out, meet egg), and that it's nice and fun to do with a special person when you're old enough (in my mind, that's around 16 or 17, so I've told them most people start around when they drive but some people wait until they're married). Sex has been a fun, special part of my life and I hope my kids have the same experience!

That's way too much for that age, and wtf, 16 or 17? Jesus.

Who decides what's too much? There's nothing shameful or embarrassing or weird about sex. They know all about the other functions of their bodies; why is sex different? Why the hang-up?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's what I've told my 6 and 8 year-olds: the basic format of it (penis into vagina, seeds come out, meet egg), and that it's nice and fun to do with a special person when you're old enough (in my mind, that's around 16 or 17, so I've told them most people start around when they drive but some people wait until they're married). Sex has been a fun, special part of my life and I hope my kids have the same experience!

That's way too much for that age, and wtf, 16 or 17? Jesus.

According to this article from NBC News: (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/37853719/ns/health-sexual_health/t/surprising-sex-statistics/)

When did you lose your virginity?

The average male loses his virginity at age 16.9; females average slightly older, at 17.4. And a new study shows that genetics may be a factor: inherited traits, such as impulsivity, can make a person more or less willing to have sex at an earlier age.

Sources: Kinsey Institute; California State University

Anonymous wrote:That's what I've told my 6 and 8 year-olds: the basic format of it (penis into vagina, seeds come out, meet egg), and that it's nice and fun to do with a special person when you're old enough (in my mind, that's around 16 or 17, so I've told them most people start around when they drive but some people wait until they're married). Sex has been a fun, special part of my life and I hope my kids have the same experience!

That's way too much for that age, and wtf, 16 or 17? Jesus.

FruminousBandersnatch wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Fun as long as they are being responsible.
Fun as long as both partners are willing, and able to consent.

And fun as long as they are mature enough and willing to handle the consequences (physical and emotional) that result.

Agree 100%. I was lumping that in the responsibility. Everyone talks all the time about the physical consequences. I think emotional consequences can be just as huge, especially for teens.

OP here -

I agree, too. I think the emotional consequences are significant, and many adults can't handle them, either.

While some of the emotional consequences are biological/hormonal, I think some of the emotional consequences are tied up in our shaming attitude about sex, not to mention our cultural hypocrisy on the topic.

Giving kids a more "sex positive" message that it's something their parents do as part of loving each other and that they enjoy it may help reduce some of that emotional baggage.

Good point about the shame wrt emotional consequences. I hadn't thought of it that way.

Wrong OP.

Giving teens the knowledge that

A) their parents are having sex, and

B) their parents are having fun havint sex

Gives them an entirely new and unwelcome set of emotional trauma and baggage.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Fun as long as they are being responsible.
Fun as long as both partners are willing, and able to consent.

And fun as long as they are mature enough and willing to handle the consequences (physical and emotional) that result.

Agree 100%. I was lumping that in the responsibility. Everyone talks all the time about the physical consequences. I think emotional consequences can be just as huge, especially for teens.

OP here -

I agree, too. I think the emotional consequences are significant, and many adults can't handle them, either.

While some of the emotional consequences are biological/hormonal, I think some of the emotional consequences are tied up in our shaming attitude about sex, not to mention our cultural hypocrisy on the topic.

Giving kids a more "sex positive" message that it's something their parents do as part of loving each other and that they enjoy it may help reduce some of that emotional baggage.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Fun as long as they are being responsible.
Fun as long as both partners are willing, and able to consent.

And fun as long as they are mature enough and willing to handle the consequences (physical and emotional) that result.

Agree 100%. I was lumping that in the responsibility. Everyone talks all the time about the physical consequences. I think emotional consequences can be just as huge, especially for teens.

Anonymous wrote:

Fun as long as they are being responsible.
Fun as long as both partners are willing, and able to consent.

And fun as long as they are mature enough and willing to handle the consequences (physical and emotional) that result.

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone sees sex as being fun. It's work awful work.

I think you might be doing something wrong, then.

Fun as long as they are being responsible.
Fun as long as both partners are willing, and able to consent.

Not everyone sees sex as being fun. It's work awful work.

Anonymous wrote:Kids actually prefer to think that their parents only had sex once to create them and haven't done it since. No one wants to know that their parents have sex every chance they get.

Not judging by most DCUM threads.