Talking to young kids about sex

Childhood Development Specialist Betsy Brown Braun explains the importance of talking to your kids about sex, and shares advice on how to make it less difficult for parents
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Talking to young kids about sex

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Talking to kids about sex is difficult for you. It's not difficult for the child. Sex is a loaded topic for grownups, because we know what sex is and we know what goes along with it. We know what society thinks of it, but for children, learning about sex, is kind of like learning about anything. So, it is very important that we are on top of our feelings and on top of our discomfort when we talk to our kids about sex, regardless of the age. It is my feeling that children have the discussion with parents about sex, in whatever form it comes to you from the child; as early as four years old. The reason I say four years old is because, pretty typically will say, "Where do babies come from?" The mistake that parents make is not talking to their child about sex. Belonging to the ostrich form of parenting, where you put your head into the ground and decide not to say anything, is a really bad idea. You want your child to learn the birds and the beesand the facts of life, from you. You don't want them learning on the playground.

Childhood Development Specialist Betsy Brown Braun explains the importance of talking to your kids about sex, and shares advice on how to make it less difficult for parents

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Betsy Brown Braun, MA

Parent Educator & Author

Betsy Brown Braun, best-selling author of both Just Tell Me What to Say: Sensible Tips and Scripts for Perplexed Parents and You’re Not The Boss Of Me: Brat-proofing Your Four To Twelve Year-Old, is a child development and behavior specialist, parent educator, multiple birth parenting consultant, and founder of Parenting Pathways, Inc.

With over 40 years of experience in public and private early childhood and elementary education, Betsy has directed and founded school programs, taught in both public and private schools, has been a school director, and was the founding director of Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s Early Childhood Center. She holds an MA in Human Development and teaching credentials from Pacific Oaks College.

In 2001 Betsy founded Parenting Pathways, Inc. to provide guidance to parents seeking the skills and confidence needed to negotiate the often-challenging parenting pathway. She leads parenting groups, seminars, and offers private parent consultations throughout the nation.

Her bestseller, Just Tell Me What To Say, in its fourth printing,presents the tried and true tools her clients use daily to handle situations that inevitably accompany raising children ages two to six and beyond. Her second book, and second bestseller, You’re Not The Boss Of Me: Brat-Proofing Your Kids, also in its fourth printing, is the ultimate hands-on guide to cultivating character traits that are tried-and-true "bratbusters." 

Betsy brings her vast knowledge, sensitivity, and special brand of humor to her parent consultations, to her groups, and to her presentations.

Her parenting expertise has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Cookie, Family Circle, Good Housekeeping, In Style, Parenting, Parents, Pregnancy and Newborn, Twins, Woman’s Day, and Working Mother, among other publications. She has shared her expertise on the Today Show multiple times. Other television appearances have included The Early Show, Good Morning America Now!, Fox & Friends, Rachel Ray, Dr. Phil,  The Talk, Entertainment Tonight, KCBS, KNBC, and Fox News LA. She contributes to KNX news radio on child development, and has been a guest on countless radio programs nationwide, including NPR. She writes for and has been cited in numerous websites and parenting blogs. Betsy is a frequent speaker at educational conferences, schools, and businesses.

Betsy and her husband Ray Braun are parents of adult triplets.

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Transcription: 
Talking to kids about sex is difficult for you. It's not difficult for the child. Sex is a loaded topic for grownups, because we know what sex is and we know what goes along with it. We know what society thinks of it, but for children, learning about sex, is kind of like learning about anything. So, it is very important that we are on top of our feelings and on top of our discomfort when we talk to our kids about sex, regardless of the age. It is my feeling that children have the discussion with parents about sex, in whatever form it comes to you from the child; as early as four years old. The reason I say four years old is because, pretty typically will say, "Where do babies come from?" The mistake that parents make is not talking to their child about sex. Belonging to the ostrich form of parenting, where you put your head into the ground and decide not to say anything, is a really bad idea. You want your child to learn the birds and the beesand the facts of life, from you. You don't want them learning on the playground.