Here’s which sexuality topics to address at each age and developmental stage, adapted from a resource developed by sexuality educator Cindy Pierce and Dr. Michael Lyons. The goal, Pierce and Lyons say, is to stay one step ahead of children’s questions, anticipating issues and curiosities before they arise.
Ages 3-4: Use anatomical terms for body parts. Normalize genital touching, but redirect children to do it in private.
Ages 5-7: Cover the basics of sexual intercourse. Find ways to integrate lessons about sexuality into everyday conversations, like you do with topics such as bullying or sharing.
Ages 8-9: Reinforce the basics that you’ve covered, remembering that kids don’t retain much at one time. Introduce internet safety and discussions about pornography. Discuss puberty.
Age 12: By age 12, children should have a solid understanding of sexuality topics, including consent, pleasure and safety.