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BC-OPG-KIDSTALK-MAIN:KRT _ lifestyle (1230 words)

The birds and the bees: How to talk to your kids about sex

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KidsHealth.org

(KRT)

Answering kids' questions about sex is one of the responsibilities many parents dread most. Otherwise confident parents often feel tongue-tied and awkward when it comes to sex. But the subject shouldn't be avoided. By answering children's questions as they arise, parents can help foster healthy feelings about sex. Here, the experts at KidsHealth.org offer some advice for tackling this delicate subject:

_ When do children start becoming curious about sex?

Children are human beings and therefore sexual beings. It's hard for parents to acknowledge this, just as it's hard for children to think of their parents as sexually active. But even infants have curiosity about their own bodies, which is healthy and normal.

_ What sort of "sexual" behavior do young children exhibit?

Toddlers ...