Parents Doing This Earlier Than Ever and with Good Reason
The Talk: Sooner Than You Think
When is the “right” time to have the talk with your kids? You know—the birds and the bees conversation?
A small majority of parents say 10 to 11 years old is the sweet spot. But increasingly, many are saying that’s already too late. Instead, they’re having the conversation earlier—between ages 7 and 9.
And honestly, that tracks. My husband is an elementary school teacher, and based on some of the things his students have said (and done), 7 to 9 might actually be just in time. Kids are going through puberty earlier. They’re getting phones earlier. And with that phone comes access to the wild west of the internet.
We can’t control everything they’ll be exposed to, but we can give them a framework to understand it. One honest, age-appropriate conversation at home is worth way more than what they’ll learn from classmates—or from whatever they stumble across online.
Growing up, I don’t remember anyone having that conversation with me. I learned what I learned from junior high health class… and, um, Red Shoe Diaries on Showtime. Not ideal.
So if you’re wondering when to have the talk, don’t wait for the “perfect” time. Just start early, be open, and make sure the first message they get about sex, love, and their bodies is a trustworthy one—yours.
In addition to hosting The Sean Show on B105.7, Sean Copeland is a therapist at Evolve Therapy in Greenwood, IN.