In our society, quite a number of topics are classified as taboo and are therefore rarely up for discussion. An example of such issues is sex. Right early on in life society starts to shield you from subjects that are perceived unsuitable for children. It begins with parents intentionally misguiding their inquisitive toddlers who may want to know the actual names of their private body parts. I once overheard a father telling his son that the name of his penis is “lizard”. During Early Education when kids are taught their body parts, the privates are deliberately excluded. And much later during Biology classes, you find teachers using euphemism to explain the Reproductive System. This shouldn’t be the case.
Children come into the world knowing nothing and that explains why they are so curious. Therefore, it is the responsibilities of parents/guardians to fill the information vacuum instead of mislead children all in the name of protecting their morality. This is very important because when parents fail to provide their wards with the right information, they [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][the children] will either grow up to become complete novices susceptible to deception, or they will seek the information from alternative and often unreliable sources.
Moving on, the issue of sexuality is always the most controversial and one from which children are shielded the most. Many Nigerian homes do not even have provision for Sex Education just as many schools don’t as well. What obtains instead is that children are taught religious principles about chastity and encouraged to keep their virginity for their future spouses. While this is good and all, the truth is it’s simply not enough. Every teenager needs the right information regarding his or her sexuality in order to make the right choices and live healthily. Merely coercing them into remaining virgins and deadening their sexual desires isn’t the best way to go about it. There is always a better way.
So what are those little and seemingly harmless lies your parents have told you about sex just to scare you into keeping your virginity? I bet they are quite a lot. It’s unfortunate that females usually have to deal with these heinous lies more than the boys. They are told that if a boy as much as smile at them and they like it then they will become pregnant. In other words, avoid boys, do not talk to them, they must not even shake your hand and never for once nurse romantic feelings for any boy. Such rules! Mind you, I am not just brushing asides the rationale behind such precautionary measures. I understand that instilled fear often serves as the best motion for doing those things that are expected of us. In as much as it can be necessary to instill some level of fear in children as a way of restraining them from promiscuity, parents must be careful how they go about this. There are many women today who are scared of sex because of what they were told about the act. Some others have altogether given up on the idea of marriage just so they would never have to have sex.
How then should teenagers be guided to make the right decisions about their sexualities in order to live healthy, productive and sexy adult lives? A holistic and effective Sex Education remains the best bet. It must start early, right from that moment they are still little and want to the name of their peepee. And of course any Sex Education talk doesn’t have to be explicit and obscene in order to work. Be serious, poised and assertive as you highlight those things that must to be known with special emphasis on why.
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