large red rubber ball for children to bounce on

However, the basics of sex education, such as bodily autonomy and consent, can be taught to primary-school-aged children - and younger. So we should be careful about making generalisations. It depends on the identity and life experience of the young person, their education and maturity levels, their religious, geographical or cultural background, and the wishes of their parents or caregivers. Sex education books can be used by parents and caregivers to guide tricky conversations about puberty, sex, gender and sexuality.Īt what age should young people learn about sex? It's difficult to say. Sex education for young people is valuable Many books now include discussions of consent and are careful to not only focus on the 'risks' of sex, such as pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, but also on pleasure, safety and communication. While books like Where Did I Come From? present sex and gender in binary and heterornomative ways, sex education books have expanded to include diverse sexualities and genders - with a greater focus on race, disability, culture, and religion. Paul Venzo's research shows there are now more than a thousand sex education books for young people in English alone. Non-fiction picture books from the 1970s like Peter Mayle's Where Did I Come From? (1973) and What's Happening to Me? (1975) began the trend of introducing young people to sex in direct and detailed ways. Sex education books for young people aren't new. With my colleague, Dr Paul Venzo, we have been examining the rise of (and demand for) books that provide an inclusive, safe and engaging way to discuss the essential topic of sex for young people. I am a researcher on texts for young people that deal with issues around sex, sexuality and gender. The book describes itself as a 'frank, age-appropriate introductory guide to sex and sexuality for teens of all genders inclusive, reassuring and all about keeping sex fun, real, and shame-free'.

Many are saying they wish they had access to this kind of book growing up. The other side is celebrating Welcome to Sex for providing comprehensive and inclusive sex education. Others are accusing the authors of ' grooming' children - a term that is increasingly misused. They are also critical of the inclusion of what they term ' gender ideology'. Critics have taken particular issue with small sections of the book that address inclusive sexual practices beyond penetrative sex, including 'fingering', 'oral sex', 'scissoring', and 'anal sex'.

One side argues the book is a graphic sex guide that's 'teaching sex' to young children.

Large red rubber ball for children to bounce on