Sex Spelled Out for Parents, Vol. 2--Early Childhood or Preschoolers

So, you're standing in the supermarket aisle doing a little necessary shopping when your 4-year-old--who's starting to sound out words--loudly asks everyone within a one-mile radius, "WHAT'S A TAMPON?" Children are curious by nature, and author and sexual health educator Meg Hickling thinks that parents should be upfront with their kids regarding sexuality, starting at an early age. In the second volume of Sex Spelled Out for Parents, Hickling looks specifically at the needs of preschoolers aged 3-5, counseling parents to skip the stork-cabbage patch-mailbox genesis stories and tell them the truth, complete with anatomically correct terminology. Hickling argues that parents need not dwell on details (which small children will not be interested in anyway), but rather that they should focus on the safety and health issues. Specifically, parents should discuss the sanctity of one's private parts as an early non-threatening vaccination against sexual abuse, warn kids not to pick up used condoms (commonly found on the street or in parks), and use bedtime as an opportunity to read to children from one of the many kid-friendly introductory picture books on human reproduction currently available. In addition, Hickling fields questions from a small audience on topics ranging from what to do when the child barges in on parents having sex (step one: stop having sex) to suggestions for handling childhood masturbation. The other titles in the series (4-volume series price: $179.95) are: An Overview, Primaries (ages 5-8) and Intermediates (ages 8-14). Wonderful advice from a gifted teacher, Sex Spelled Out for Parents will be a boon to public library collections looking for quality materials on this sensitive subject. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)