Supporting sexuality education
in early childhood settings
Sexuality education is essential to every
child’s developing understanding of their
sense of self and the world around them. Providing
age-appropriate, comprehensive sexuality education
is a responsibility shared by educators of
young children with parents and carers. Early
childhood educators can work cooperatively
with parents and carers to promote healthy
attitudes and understandings in children, and
help children develop the skills to communicate
confidently about their bodies. When children
can talk about sexuality with trusted adults
such as parents, carers and teachers, and these
adults respond positively, this open communication
about sexuality supports healthy development
and helps to keep children safe.
Young children can:
- have accurate information about
human development
- feel good about their bodies
and themselves
- appreciate and accept individual
differences
- understand and accept with confidence
physical and emotional changes
that occur as they grow
- be able to communicate
the names of all parts of the body
- learn
to identify public and private body parts,
places and behaviours
- understand the rules
about touch and therefore be less vulnerable
to exploitation and sexual abuse
- learn to
identify safety networks to ask for help
if needed.
FPQ can support sexuality education in early
childhood settings through working with early
childhood staff, parents and carers. This can
include providing:
-
Professional development for early
childhood professionals
Professional development can increase understanding
of sexual development in early childhood,
and facilitate the development and implementation
of sexuality education programs within early
childhood settings.
-
Parent/carer education
programs
Supporting and encouraging parents/carers
to begin talking about sexuality
with their children, this program discusses
sexual development and curiosity
in young children, and a range of strategies
which can be used to discuss sexuality
with children, respond to curiosity
about sexuality, answer children’s
questions and guide healthy development
Cost:
$120 per hour
For further information please contact your
nearest FPQ office.
FPQ produces resources to support early childhood
professionals, parents and carers to provide
sexuality education and support healthy sexual
development.
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Early Childhood
