The Birds and the Bees

I was recently reminded that "love" is in the air each spring.   This led me to think about those sometimes awkward conversations with our children about "the birds and the bees."  To help parents discuss sex and where babies come from, there are a couple books I highly recommend.

It's So Amazing!  A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies and Families by Robie Harris is a great, straight-forward book (with touches of humor) about where babies come from.  The pictures are realistic cartoons.  The discussion is very open, but geared for younger kids.  This book is good for ages 7 and up.

It's Perfectly Normal:  Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex and Sexual Health by Robie Harris is a good book for the next stage in the parent-child sex discussions.  The books says it's for ages 10 and up, but I recommend it for ages 12 and up.  Every child is different (as is every family) so you may want to check it out first.  Once again the pictures are realistic cartoon drawings.  The topics are important ones for middle school/junior high age kids.  It deals with topics such as sexual orientation, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and sexual abuse.

If having "the talk" gives you cold sweats of fear, or if your child thinks talking with you about this stuff is "sooo embarrassing!" you might want to try getting the book and casually leaving it somewhere like in the bathroom.  That's what I did with It's So Amazing! and I notice that it's getting read.  This, of course, doesn't take the place of "the talk" but it might help initiate a good discussion or two.

On a related topic, as our children grow up they need good information about personal hygiene and their changing bodies.  I highly recommend that every parent get their girl a copy of The Care and Keeping of You by the American Girl Library.  It's a wonderful book that deals with taking care of a girl's body from brushing her teeth to her first bra and getting her period.  It is excellent information for girls ages 9-12.

That's it for my growing-up round-up.   Hopefully, when your child next asks a tricky question, you can confidently reach for one of these books and say, "Well, I'm glad you asked."