Sex Education for Children

[Sandra]

Proposed ban on sex education for children under nine. 

Parents, teachers and MPs have criticised the proposals being brought forward by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan which include ruling that gender identity is a 'contested subject that should not be taught' in schools.

She will unveil proposals for a total ban on sex education for infant children, with lessons not permitted to start until at least Year Five.

Parents will also be given the right to see the material their children are being taught.

But there has been a backlash today with ministers accused of 'politicising' sex education.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan will unveil proposals tomorrow for a total ban on the subject for infant children, with lessons not permitted to start until at least Year Five

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan will unveil proposals tomorrow for a total ban on the subject for infant children, with lessons not permitted to start until at least Year Five

What are the existing rules on Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE)?

Education on relationships has been compulsory in primary schools since September 2020.

Children are taught about physical health, parts of the body and puberty - as well as healthy and respectful relationships within family and friends.

Schools are encouraged to inform pupils about different types of families and same-sex relationships.

Secondary school pupils are given mandatory relationships, sex and health education - including content on sex, consent, online abuse, domestic abuse and female genital mutilation.

Parents can remove their children from some sex education classes but not relationships education.

In a surprise move, ministers have decided to make the guidance statutory, meaning that schools will have to comply by law.

One government source said Rishi Sunak believed the rules around sex education for the youngest children needed to be made 'much tougher'.

Under the current rules, 'relationships education' begins when children start primary school at the age of four and can be supplemented with sex education using 'age appropriate material'.

The Prime Minister ordered a review after Tory MPs produced evidence that 'age-inappropriate, extreme, sexualising and inaccurate' content was being taught to young children across Britain.

But Dr Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, this morning wrote on X, formerly Twitter: 'Politicising sex education is unforgivable dangerous & reactionary.

'It's always *age appropriate* to give young people skills to stay safe. For younger ones that means teaching about respect & healthy relationships.

[ShyOttawaGuy]

I think children should get educated about sex when they start to have the curiosity about it. Parents should be the first to explain it to their children. Then the education system can help with more detailed information.

[Sandra]

I think children should get educated about sex when they start to have the curiosity about it. Parents should be the first to explain it to their children. Then the education system can help with more detailed information.

Not ALL parents feel comfortable talking about sex with their children, so it IS up to the school but that can be very clinical.

Most children learn from friends and the internet.

[Friendlycock]

Not ALL parents feel comfortable talking about sex with their children, so it IS up to the school but that can be very clinical.

Most children learn from friends and the internet.

Not to talk about it and to have an eerie air of disapproval is very dangerous and so confusing for a child. Should children be encouraged to masturbate? I do think so. Ive chatted with some who were raised in a very sex positive home. I think, done responsibly, with plenty of support and encouragement it would be a beautiful atmosphere to learn sex in. What about responsible teen intercourse? How could parents be responsible and keep the teens safe as they explore with others? Obvious legal boundaries but should the family discreetly set their own boundaries?

[Sandra]

Children do NOT have to be encouraged, they will play with their bits when the time is right no mater what age they are.

[Max]

Children do NOT have to be encouraged, they will play with their bits when the time is right no mater what age they are.

Agreed, conditionally.
Once they have started to play, I think it would be good if Mum's had a mutual arrangement with a friend of hers such that they taught each other's children.
Two of my friends at school were taught even more than masturbation by each other's mum. In hindsight, I think them both growing up in a nudist family made a big difference. Years later, there was no sense of it being wrong and at least one of them continued activities with his friends mum, when he discovered a new thing that he wanted to try. She let him try everything just when he was ready and chose to mention it.

I was envious. Not jealous. When I first heard about it, I had been cumming every night thinking about a particular one of them.

I was not from a nudism family and so, as a 15/16 year old, when I saw her nude in her own home, it had a lasting effect on me. 

When I've set out my views with adult friends, when in 40s, I was too far 'out there' for them to agree with me.