Family plays an important role in every human being. children first learn about sex and morals by observing the attitudes and behaviour of their parents and family members. The importance of a caring and loving relationship is often understood by the behaviour patterns of children manifested at different stages of emotional and sexual development.
Because, during childhood, most of the learning is acquired by imitation, it is important for the parents to be aware of their roles and to impart positive sexual health education to the children. The most appropriate attitude is to let the child know that sex is not a dirty reality and curiosity in these spheres is a common and natural process of growing up.
Without a caring and helpful attitude, children will be hesitant to ask sex related questions fearing that their parents will be Uncomfortable to answer them truthfully.
If only parents become comfortable talking about sex and sexuality, they will be able to promote a health parent-child relationship. Parents should avoid associating scary stories with sex. Sex should not be mixed up with sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, teenage pregnancy, rape, pornography and child molestation.
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Children should, no doubt be warned about the dangers of these problems but at the same time, parent should not forget to acknowledge and explain that sex, in its proper place is a good and wonderful thing. Parents should neither panic when children ask questions, nor should they express distress at seeing their children exploring their bodies.
Paints are usually worried that knowledge about sex and sexuality will harm the child. Though we are products of a conservative society
with primitive norms, scientific knowledge appropriate to the chronological and mental age of the child will not harm him/her as much as ignorance may.
It is better to give the child basic information in a simple manner as the child grows up. It may also happen that children may ask questions that are in conflict with moral values. An understanding and positive explanation catering to their needs and satisfying their curiosity will reduce the risks and consequences of sexual ignorance.
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Even if parents occasionally respond a little more than the child’s capacity or level of understanding, it will only leave the door open for further communication. It is the parent’s attitude that is important. Sometimes the child’s curiosity and concerns may seem irrational, but they may also be real to him/her and should not be dismissed or discarded by parents.
This may even close and snap off the healthy communication in the parent-child relationship. Only if the child can trust that his/her parents are not rigid or hostile to his/her curiosities he/she will be able to look upon them as source of wisdom and guidance.
Sexual health education is important but of greater importance is the fact that it is imparted from childhood onwards. Youngsters need to feel, free to talk with parents about sex and sexuality even before puberty because by then, they are already sexual beings.
It just appears that the sexual orientation is a product of puberty; but in reality they are reflections of sexual mores well established in childhood and do not change much in later period. All these things happen because at this stage most of the learning style is though suggestion.