At this stage of life, innocence is either still largely at play, or could be quickly disappearing depending on their experiences. Either way, kids are going to vary at this age with how much they "know" and want to know when it comes to sex and their bodies.
Here are a few things you can discuss with your grade schooler:
- Let a book do the talking. Although your child may not be asking about sex just yet, you can help start the conversation by grabbing a book that's happy to explain difficult topics to them in an age-appropriate way. You can read through it together the first time — then they can reread on their own later if they want — and you should encourage them to ask you questions about any of the content!
- Use their curiosity to your advantage. There is no need to bring up sexual acts with a child that isn't asking about them, but if your 9-year-old comes home one day and asks you the definition of a sexual term they heard, you can give them an explanation in a straightforward manner. This is also a good time to remind them that those performing any sexual acts should be doing so consensually, and what that entails.
