Okay this is what the Health Department of Utah has to say on it's website about what kids need to know. This is approved in 16 school districts in Utah to be taught. Just know that it is long so don't feel like you need to read it all. But skip down to my notes at the bottom...What Do Children Need to Know by Age Five?
By age five, children need to know
that love should make people feel good, safe, and wanted
that people's bodies are different sizes, shapes, and colors
how the bodies of girls and women are different from the bodies of boys and men
that people’s bodies belong to themselves
the correct names for all body parts, including sex and reproductive organs
how to talk about their sexual parts without feeling naughty
that it’s normal to touch one’s sex organs for pleasure
to seek privacy when touching one’s sex organs for pleasure
how a “baby” "gets in" and "gets out" of a woman’s body
that a woman does not have to have a baby unless she wants to
how to talk with trusted adults about sexual issues, questions, and concerns
how to say, "No," to unwanted touch
What Do Children Need to Know by Ages 5–7?
In addition to earlier information and skills, children ages 5–7 need to know
that all living things reproduce
how plants and animals grow and reproduce, what they need, and how we care for them
that all people, including our parents and grandparents, are sexual
that we all live through a life cycle that has a beginning and an end and includes sexuality at all ages
that people experience sexual pleasure in a number of different ways
that everyone has sexual thoughts and fantasies and that having them is normal
that families are structured in different ways
the roles and responsibilities of different members of their families
how to live outside of stereotyped gender roles — for example, that women can be good leaders and men can be good at taking care of children
that sexual identity includes sexual orientation
that we must all take an active role in protecting our health
that health care providers support our health and well-being
the basic facts about
HIV/AIDSthat a friend is someone we enjoy being with, someone who shares, listens, encourages, and helps us think through our problems
how to develop, maintain, and end friendships
how to recognize and protect themselves from potential sexual abuse and its dangers — for example, sexual predators may seem kind, giving, and loving. They may be friends or family members.
What Do Preteens Need to Know by Ages 8–12?In addition to earlier information and skills …
ABOUT ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT, PRETEENS NEED TO KNOW
how female and male bodies grow and differ
that puberty starts at different times for girls and boys and for different individuals
how to be comfortable with their changing bodies, especially in relationship to other children their age
what menstruation and wet dreams are
how to take care of their personal hygiene during menstruation
that emotional changes are common during this time
ABOUT SEXUAL BEHAVIOR, PRETEENS NEED TO KNOW:
how to accept human sexuality and their own sexual feelings as a natural part of life
that people have sex for pleasure — that it’s not done only to have a baby
that masturbation is very common — that it is normal to masturbate, but only in private
they don’t have to feel guilt about masturbating
what
sexually transmitted infections and
safer sex are
how to talk about and practice safer sex
what rape is
what sex work is and why it’s dangerous for young women and young men
ABOUT HUMAN REPRODUCTION AND BIRTH CONTROL, PRETEENS NEED TO KNOW:
the biology of the fertility cycle,
how pregnancy happens, and the basics about how a pregnancy develops
that no one has to become a parent
that
birth control methods — including
emergency contraception — can prevent pregnancy
that 85 out of 100 women who have vaginal intercourse will become pregnant within a year if they do not use birth control
how to talk about birth control and what some of the methods are
how to get birth control
what
abortion is
that women can get pregnant without having sex by using alternative insemination or other fertility treatments
ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, PRETEENS NEED TO KNOW:
how their communities, families, and peers feel about dating
that families are structured in many different ways, how the relationships in families differ, and how families fit into their societies
how to end relationships without anger
how to recognize and protect themselves from
abusive relationshipsWow. Really. wow. Some of these things, even in the 5-7 year old age range, I have not taught any of my kids. Maybe I should have thought longer and harder before having kids. I am just not cut out to have these conversations. What do I say? HELP ME!!!
