What would you say is a good age for "the talk?"
By Patrika952
@Patrika952 (156)
United States
January 31, 2009 9:56am CST
I feel silly asking, but lately I have been wondering if we (my husband and I) should initiate the discussion of how babies are made or wait for my 5 year old daughter to ask.
I think she is a little more informed than most, due to the fact that we live on a farm and she has seen more than city kids probably do. She knows, for example, that a boy cat and a girl cat make baby cats. She knows that at the zoo, the peacock fans out his feathers at the peahen because he is saying "hey, lets go make baby peacocks!" I take the blame for that one, LOL! She has seen the stray cat we took in have kittens. But she has not asked for any of the details.
What do you guys think about this? What is the "proper" age? She we wait for her to start asking? Thanks in advance for any advice.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@TLChimes (4822)
• United States
2 Feb 09
I started telling the life skill things as they come up. Start earlier then you think. I hate to say it but I know of 12 year olds who are sexually active. Not my kids because I am a mean mom but still...
My daughter at 8 knows about her body and what to expect later. She is starting to hear other important things.
If you start talking to them now then it's more likely they will talk to you later when they should/need to talk to you. Be open now and they will be open later.
@Patrika952 (156)
• United States
3 Feb 09
I can not imagine a 12 year old being sexually active! That just blows my mind. I think it is really important that young girls are taught to have some self respect rather than throwing themselves at the first guy that comes around. I think you are right about keeping communication open, that is probably a good way to help keep them from making really big mistakes when they really are still kids!
@Patrika952 (156)
• United States
3 Feb 09
I agree with being truthful. I think that the parents who make up stories are probably making things worse in the long run. Kids should not have to wonder if their parents are lying to them about their concerns.
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
31 Jan 09
I think I would wait till she starts asking questions. My daughter is 6 and she hasn't asked about anything like that yet. I just let her know that if she ever has any questions about anything she shouldn't be afraid to ask. I would worry if i told her too young then she would go tell her friends how it works and then I would have a bunch of parents yelling at me because their kid learned it before they were ready lol.
