Sex Ed for the Stroller Set: How to Have Honest Conversations With Young Children is a book written for parents or other primary caregivers who are raising a child under the age of six. Shows how to provide essential information about sexuality, bodies, and behavior in age-appropriate but thorough and accurate language. It helps parents prepare for conversations that might make them uncomfortable by supplying not only the necessary information but also specific phrases and words they can use when speaking to their young children, while also helping parents process their own anxieties around sex.
Evaluation comments:
“I was so excited to start this book. Growing up I had parents who never discussed sexuality with me or made me feel like I had a safe space to ask questions. As a parent, I want to make sure my daughters feel like they can ask or tell me anything without shame or judgement. Because I didn’t have a good example of that growing up, I struggle with what to say and how to say it. Now that my oldest is 5 years old, questions have started to come up that I want to answer with confidence however I just don’t have that yet. I’m hopeful this book can give me the tools and knowledge to feel empowered when discussing the topics of sex and sexuality so that my daughters can feel knowledgeable and empowered about their own bodies and choices.”
“I think this is a very well written book. I really liked that they mixed research-based information with relatable anecdotes, exercises, and extra resources to continue topic exploration. It’s a very engaging and interesting read that’s packed with so much information and advice.”
“This is a very helpful book for parents with young kids.”
“I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and felt like I got so much out of it: confidence, knowledge, self-reflection.
From the second chapter exercises, I got a gut check on how uncomfortable I truly am about talking about sex and other sexuality related topics. I also felt hopeful that my daughters have the opportunity to feel differently than I did by writing down my hopes and wishes for their future. I really enjoyed that exercise because it focused on positive outcomes. It also made me think about topics and potential questions they might have in advance so that I’m not as surprised and can react neutrally.
Chapter 3 was a heavy dose of anatomy. It was a good refresher course on male and female external and internal genitalia. My husband and I both believe that we should use the correct terms for body parts which this section of the book addresses. The authors give information about each part of the body and also share tips on how to describe them to your children in easy-to-understand language.
Chapter 4 was all about sexual identification. I found it be interesting and also difficult to understand based on how and when I grew up. The world is changing so fast and there are so many different ways to view and express sexuality beyond male/female/straight/gay.
Chapter 5 is a tough one on sexual abuse. It’s the reason why I want my daughters to feel empowered and confident. It discusses what childhood sexual abuse is, who is at risk, who does it, what the signs are, what to do and how to help if it happens, plus a lot more information. It’s a dense chapter that helps parents understand and identify warning signs. It also shares a lot of resources and books you can read with your child.
The next few chapters are age specific information on how you introduce and talk about topics with your children. They share age-appropriate books and toy suggestions as well. I’m so glad they split it up between infants, toddlers, and kindergarteners because they all encounter sexuality differently.
The last chapter is a great resource for parents (like me) who have no idea what to say to the common questions kids ask. The authors give different answers to help guide you and share tips on how to react to certain situations.”
“Overall, I found this to be a very helpful and informative book. I think it is well written and gives a lot of great advice on sensitive topics. I’m really glad I read this and I would recommend it to other parents.”
“I liked the scripts they recommend when answering questions or talking about certain topics. I found those to be very helpful. I also like that this is a proactive approach instead of a reactive and it empowers parents to talk about sexuality openly, often and without fear.”
“Looking forward to putting these methods to work!”