Sex Education toys for children

[Holly Taylor]

I thought this was an interesting article, although it's very short and only superficially touches on the topic of children and sex education.

The vast majority of information about sex and puberty came to me through media that I sought out myself (books at the library, teen magazines, the Internet). I've always been a curious person, so I went out of my way to learn about sex, the body, puberty, etc. But I've met people recently who weren't like that when they were young - they didn't receive any sex ed at school or from their parents, and even as adults, they seem pretty confused about basic things like what a hymen is, when girls get their period, STD transmission, the clitoris and the fact that most women don't experience vaginal orgasm, etc.

It's a sad state of affairs, if you ask me!

I'd be interested in hearing from any parents about how they approached this topic with their kids. I'd also be interested in hearing from people about their own experiences learning about this subject. I never had "the talk" from my parents, and I was never given any books, but damn, I went out of my way to learn!

http://www.salon.com/life/sex_education/index.html?story=/mwt/feature/2011/09/07/sex_ed

The world's sex ed toys
Inspired by China's anatomically correct dolls, we've rounded up tools used around the globe for "the talk"

I was confused to find that a Huffington Post article about anatomically correct dolls used to teach sex ed to kindergartners in China came with the warning: "POTENTIALLY UNSETTLING PHOTOS BELOW." My goodness! I wondered: What kind of sick lesson plan for 5-year-olds would require an all-caps warning for an adult audience? I had the same reaction a while back when I caught a CNN segment about similar dollies being used to teach little ones in Indonesia about the birds and the bees. It was preceded by the warning: "This report includes graphic content. Viewer discretion is advised."

The "unsettling" and "graphic" content? The dollies had genitals. Seriously, that was it. In both cases, children were being taught about the age-appropriate topics of basic human anatomy, where babies come from and healthy physical boundaries. I will admit that the images and video made my jaw drop -- not out of horror but rather because they are so darned cute. Kids' natural curiosity and wonderment is an awesome thing to behold -- and it should come as something of a lesson, or at least a refreshing reminder, to adults. In that spirit of whimsy and giggly curiosity, we've collected images of sex ed toys from around the world -- from Switzerland's dismembered private part plushes to America's infamous vulva puppet.

 

[emacky]

Back in elementary school, we had the option of learning bout sex ed in 7th grade. Pretty much all the kids took it. We saw some interesting cartoons bout the human body and how babies are produced (no actual images of any sex act). The video looked pretty old back then, like it was produced in the 80's.

I'm not 100% surprised about the whole sex ed being missed by some schools. Some school districts still consider it taboo, even for teenagers. I use to have a friend who I treated like a little sister, she went to school in Coquitlam and back at her high school, they had the option of sex ed or band. Sex-ed was not mandatory and her parents were never around to give her the talk or they were too traditional to discuss this matter.

I firmly believe all schools should have sex ed for kids, cuz they need it. My friend never had it and if I didn't she would probably of had a kid by now. At the time when I gave her the talk it was probably a few weeks after her first bf at the time and her were discussing bout sex. He talked about all the shit he saw (deep throat, anal, blow jobs, creampies) and all the stuff he wanted to do to her.

She had no idea what the consequences would be if she let him do all that stuff to her. He hated me after and made her choose between my friendship or him after ha ha ha

 

[Flanders]

Back in elementary school, we had the option of learning bout sex ed in 7th grade...

... The video looked pretty old back then, like it was produced in the 80's...

Yeah, waaaaaay back in the 80's... Like, who was even born back then?

~sigh~

 

[markjacob]

I thought this was an interesting article, although it's very short and only superficially touches on the topic of children and sex education.

The vast majority of information about sex and puberty came to me through media that I sought out myself (books at the library, teen magazines, the Internet). I've always been a curious person, so I went out of my way to learn about sex, the body, puberty, etc. But I've met people recently who weren't like that when they were young - they didn't receive any sex ed at school or from their parents, and even as adults, they seem pretty confused about basic things like what a hymen is, when girls get their period, STD transmission, the clitoris and the fact that most women don't experience vaginal orgasm, etc.

It's a sad state of affairs, if you ask me!

I'd be interested in hearing from any parents about how they approached this topic with their kids. I'd also be interested in hearing from people about their own experiences learning about this subject. I never had "the talk" from my parents, and I was never given any books, but damn, I went out of my way to learn!

http://www.salon.com/life/sex_education/index.html?story=/mwt/feature/2011/09/07/sex_ed

I checked out the article you posted. Am so glad that there's forwarding thinking people out there like in China and elsewhere with those anatomically correct dolls showing kids the reality of life.

Comments about how "freaky" it is to see anatomically correct dolls and all that says more about those who make the comments than it does about the dolls themselves (or the people who produce them). For example, why is it "FREAKY" to show genitals on a doll, even if it is for kids, if that is how human beings are built??? Why is nature freaky?? Why is showing sex to kids unacceptable??? Why is it wrong to educate a child on reality? People are not born from geese dropping them from the sky! Men and women love each other and physical love is as real a component as emotional love!

 

[Holly Taylor]

For example, why is it "FREAKY" to show genitals on a doll, even if it is for kids, if that is how human beings are built??? Why is nature freaky?? Why is showing sex to kids unacceptable??? Why is it wrong to educate a child on reality? People are not born from geese dropping them from the sky!

I completely agree. I have been to nudist camps and beaches and seen children and families there. I thought it was great. These kids will grow up knowing what bodies look like, and not be afraid of them or mystified by them. When I was young, I really had no idea what other people looked like naked.

Explaining anatomy and sex and reproduction is a positive thing, in my opinion.

Men and women love each other and physical love is as real a component as emotional love!

I think sex can be discussed in terms of love, but it can also be discussed in terms of it simply being an act that people engage in. I think it's fine to say "This is something people do, and this is what you should know." I don't think it's necessary (or even productive) to say "This is something people do when they're in love."

And I definitely think it should be discussed in terms of "people" more generally, rather than "men and women", since the above statement ("men and women love each other") doesn't apply to non-straight people.

I'm loving all the comments on this thread - it's such an interesting topic

 

[sweetiepie1]

I don't find the toys disturbing, but I find it distasteful that they exposed the faces of real children playing with them, and I wonder if the parents gave consent for that, and how the children would feel about that as they get older (I suppose the writers' assumed it doesn't matter if its just Chinese children - I doubt they would have done it with North American ones). I would raise the same concern with the publication of children's photos that were less potentially sexual, too (ie. its a generic right to privacy consideration)

 

[the old maxx50]

My family never had any hange up about being naked .. I saw my parents naked a few time ..and i shared a bath with my sister for many years ..

My dad was pretty open about talking about sex , not that he was much into explaining it .. That was left up to my mom who gave use an out dated book explaining it is some way .. . I saw my first Playboy . when i was 12 or so and was just starting to get erections .. and one day while rubbing my self came in my pants .. little bit of a shock to me .. I mostly just had to pick it up from other kids talking , seeing pictures and later seeing movies on TV that showed nudinty and simulated sex ,like Emmanuel .. It was look , listen and add it up for myself .
I bought a lot of men's mages and when there was XXX movies showing in town i would go to them .. But this was the 70's in Victoria .. the porn in the theaters did not show penetration , I am not sure where I first saw that .. in mags or at the movies ... That was another one of those eye openers ..lol

My only sex was masturbating and when video porn came out tat was my only form of further education .It turns out i knew what to do ad i am familiar women sexuality and women problems probably more that some men are or women .. but only because i looked up the info and listened ..
I did not have actual sex until i was 50 .. but mentally i had had it many times before ..

What I never got an education on is intimacy My family was not ones to show to much affection openly .. WE can be emotional but not hugging and kissing or cuddly .. Some again i knew i was missing but i had to find my own way to understanding and doing ...

The best sex eduction i ever got was seeing escorts . a little late in life .

 

[the old maxx50]

alinburnaby the green door show full sex .. YOU must of seen it in the theater in the 70 then I am sure it was censored The inter net versions are not.

I am pretty sure a 12 yr old know more a bout sex today then I did at 20 ... What they are missing is knowing what the consequences are of unprotected sex and pregnancy and are allso to im mature fro understanding relationships That should be all part of sex edd

 

[Webster]

Bottom line - Kids should be protected & their innocence kept intact until they are mature enough to face the harsh realities of life.

I think that was around 38 for me.