The lack of Sexual awareness is common in many countries. It should be incorporated in the important topics, as this is now arising several problems in the World. From a very young age, children are misled into believing that physical activities are for entertainment and gradually they start getting inclined towards the digital access of pornography. They find it more captivating as they are restricted by their parents, without being explained the actual reason. Acquiring pleasure through the visuals are very common and especially among the youngster. However, they are not correctly guided about the consequences of that these videos have on their mental health. Since they seek pleasure through the visuals, considering that the stunts shown in the videos are exaggerated and portrayed in a way that is absolutely not real, they are not aware how different the concept of physical intimacy is.

Introducing sexual awareness:

Experts suggest that it is important to educate children about sex at the right age and in the correct way, which otherwise might impact their mental health wrongly. They should be introduced to their body parts at an early age and taught to be able to differentiate between a good and a bad touch. It is very important to teach them the names of their body which further helps them to communicate about any injuries or abuse to their parents. This also helps them gradually start learning about their own body and normalize the parts and not consider them to be a fact of shame to talk about in general. Along with all this information, they should also be explained that a person’s genitalia don’t determine their gender, which is completely a personal choice to make when they grow up. Preschoolers are very interested to know how children are born and they get eager to know more about the concept of childbirth. They should be given brief details of the process as they are curious and this is will help them get an insight of whole thing. This information will help them accept that this is a natural process and that families are not made just in this way.

The concept of consent: the key lesson for humanity

Consent is another very important truth that the child should be made aware of. They should be well provided the knowledge that no one can touch their genitalia except for their parents and health care providers and that too with only their allowance. Their body parts are very personal and from the young age, they should be able to prevent people from touching them unwittingly or intentionally. Knowing the difference between an appropriate and an inappropriate touch will help them to stand up against any sexual injustice, if they experience or witness any of these incidents. A deep knowledge about consent and gradually learning more about it as they grow older, helps them to make the right sexual choices in their lives. In the similar manner, they will also learn to ask for consent before physically touching someone for hugging, kissing, etc. They will be learning gradually, about body privacy and other related issues.
As they grow older and start going to primary school, it is the right age for them to be able to identify a person by their respected orientation. They should be taught that gender does not limit to being a female or a male, but it widely represents all the spectrums of identities that people chose for themselves. Children should be taught that love has no boundaries and it is not limited only between people of opposite genders but it binds two people together very strongly. Learning of acceptance comes from witnessing the act of acceptance. As parent behave accepting towards their child, listening to their problems instead of blaming or misbehaving with them, the child learns to enact this behavior in their lives as well. It is essential that they get the required knowledge about nudity and body privacy as most children tend to explore their bodies by the end of this age span. They should also be taught about puberty as they enter their pre-teen years of life.
Parents of Pre-teenagers and teenagers should be very active as these years of the child’s growth are very essential. Along with pubertal changes, they undergo hormonal changes that impact vastly on their mental health. Parents should provide a safe space so that their children are comfortable sharing their problems with them and not be afraid to be denied of comfort or be judged by their own parents. It is very common that children during these years of their lives will develop attraction towards individuals of their choice and therefore, parents should make sure to explain them about protection and other necessary steps to be taken to avoid STIs or other diseases and also pregnancy. They should be provided detailed information about safe sex and that it can also be performed when they consent to it.

How can parents teach children about sexual awareness?

As children are very sensitive during the growing phase of their lives, it is important that parents take a closer notice of what they are learning, taking part in, viewing and how they are interpreting information. All individuals have different ways to interpret one similar piece of information in their own ways. Hence, they should be aware that a child whilst growing up will question and be curious about a lot of things. To be a responsible parent is to take out time to sit with your child and clarify their doubts and provide meaningful insight to the things that stir their thinking. It is often seen that after a certain age, children are eager to know how they arrived on the planet. If it was some omnipresent energy that brought them here or was it that they were picked up from somewhere. The shaping of the child’s perspective of their own birth would definitely surround to a great extent upon the approach and explanation of the parent’s to the question.
Tutoring students through games and activities is a very affective way. Positive reinforcement can also be wisely used to educate them whilst the process. This would also help them to develop a sense of confidence regarding the progress. It is also a vital thing for the parents to teach them self-defense in order for the child to be able to protect them. Taking a stand for oneself is an essential part of the process.
Incidents that occur to a child during their childhood that shapes them as adult individual. The thoughts, beliefs, perspective and the ways to absorb and interpret information all revolve what all episodes of incidents they were exposed to during their childhood and according these grounds will that child behave to situations as an adult. Thus, exposing a child to positive activities and events is important for helping them grow to a healthy individual capable of allowing themselves to feel the emotions based on the situation.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ’s):

• What is Fondling a child?
Forcible Fondling is where a person is touched sexually for the purpose of their sexual gratification, against their will or consent due to their youth or mental incapacity.
• What is child grooming?
This method, used in large data for trafficking and exploitation, is where an individual builds an emotional connection, relationship and trust with a child or a young individual in order to exploit or abuse them.
• How can you get your child to stop touching themselves?
As a parent, it should be kept in mind that children are unaware of their activities a lot of time. In order to prevent them from touching themselves, it is important to tell them that you understand that it feels good to touch their body parts and direct them the appropriate time to do it. The approach to deliver it is what makes a big difference in the change of their behaviour.