The Importance of Teaching your Children

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The human body is incredible. Both males and females can do so many amazing things. One such thing is sexual intercourse. Sex is a beautiful thing when performed in the bonds of marriage. Yet, it often occurs in relationships outside of marriage or is highly abused. This can cause multiple problems physically, and mentally. Diseases can be transmitted, people who were abused with sex can have a fear of it even when they get married, and teenagers can end up getting pregnant because they did not truly understand the consequences of their actions. For these and many other reasons sex is a hard subject to address. Despite its being hard it is an extremely essential subject to talk about. Married couples must discuss it with one another, and, when they have children, it is critical that they teach their children about it.

               If children are not taught about sexual topics it can be highly damaging to them. They need to learn about their bodies and the things they can do. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has released a manual titled A Parent’s Guide to help parents know what to tell their children at certain ages. Even though I am not even close to being married and having children, I enjoyed reading this manual and recommend it to all parents.

A brief summary:
  •         Age: Birth to three years – The most important thing for a parent to do for a new child is love and care for him or her. If a toddler is learning to eat or sit up a parent should encourage him or her. If the child is not successful and makes a mess, it is important for the parent not to get angry, but to lovingly help correct the child’s actions. If a father yells at his young daughter for spilling food everywhere when she tries to feed herself, she may grow of fear of men or may think it is wrong to spill.

o   At about three years old a child will begin to learn and examine is his or her body. Parents must let them do so. It is also important for parents to teach the child about their gender and how important and special their gender is, as well as how important it is for them to accept their gender.
  •         Age: 4-11 – During these years, children really start to learn their gender roles. Parents should help and teach them in that. Five especially important things to teach kids in these years include:

1.      Teach your children to take good care of their bodies
2.      Teach your children how intimate relationships differ from other relationships.
3.      Teach your children to accept and understand that basic differences between men and women are complementary in nature. To understand their role identity, children need to understand that each gender completes the purpose of the other’s creation.
4.      Teach your children about sexuality as they become ready to learn.
5.      Protect your children from physical and sexual abuse
The manual goes into detail about how to go about teaching your children these things.
  •         Age: 12-18 – Adolescence is a wonderful but confusing time in a child’s life. Four important principles to teach this age group are:

1.      Prepare your teenagers for the changes that will accompany puberty.
2.      Teach your teenagers that they can control their desires for physical intimacy.
3.      Help your teenagers to have wholesome social experiences.
4.      Help your teenagers see adolescence as a time for developing spiritual power.
It is ideal to teach children from ages 8-12 about puberty before it occurs rather than waiting to talk about it while it is occurring. Besides teaching about their bodies and things that go along with that, a parent should also teach their child to respect and be kind to themselves and others. These essential traits will follow them into adulthood and will bless their lives.
  •         Lastly, it is important to teach your child about marriage and courtship before they get married. Teach them about proper courtship. Teach them about the hardships and excitements of marriage. Teach them to be open with their spouse. Teach them that sex is a wonderful aspect of marriage and that it is of God.

I am so grateful that my mother taught me from a young age about my role as a female as well as about sexual relations and when they are appropriate. I know it may have been uncomfortable for her to discuss those things with me, but it has been a huge blessing to my life and I am so thankful for her.


Source: https://www.lds.org/manual/a-parents-guide?lang=eng


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