Children gain sexual awareness between the ages of 4-6 (phallic period) and begin to question. As he discovers himself, he starts asking questions. With increased physical awareness, behaviors such as touching and playing with the genitals can be observed.
In such cases, the child's attention may be distracted. Afterwards, conversations can be held to satisfy their curiosity about this subject.
Especially conversations that girls will have with their mothers and boys with their fathers will enable children to obtain accurate information.
You can also get support from books while having these conversations. The most important point to consider here is that our words and the language we use when having this conversation with the child are appropriate to the age of the child. In some age groups, children may not have gained sexual awareness and when you have this conversation, the child may be confused about this issue. For this reason, we should use age-appropriate language and the books we use when raising awareness should be appropriate for the age group.
Additionally, as a result of the information and guidance you will give in your conversations, you will be able to control this process by making your child aware of abuse. The process we call privacy education enables children to protect themselves against the outside world in this sense. The child who gains body awareness will expand his questions about sexuality and ask, "How is it?" “, “How did you come into the world?”, “Why did my parents sleep together?” He will start to think and ask questions about topics such as. During this process, it is necessary to talk to the child and make an explanation appropriate to his age whenever possible. Ignoring the child or not giving an explanation may lead to the child gaining incorrect information.
It is important to use age-appropriate words and explain in sentences at a level that the child can understand when speaking.
Children and Privacy Education
As mothers and fathers, we must provide education to children in order to inform and educate them about their own bodies, ensuring their safety, and the attitudes they should display towards strangers. Children need protection. But it is not possible to be with them all the time and do this. You You need to inform him about this so that he can protect himself as you protect him. The most important point to be considered when giving this information is to convey it without harming the sense of trust or scaring the person. In addition to teaching children to protect themselves, they should be kept under controlled supervision according to their age. While sitting face to face and talking, anxious parents transfer their anxiety to the child. Therefore, first the parent should get away from his own concerns. When providing information, the age of the child should be taken into account and attention should be paid to the language and expression used. Simple, clear and understated language should be used. An exaggerated narrative can shake the child's confidence in the outside world. The age criterion for this training starts at 2-3 years of age, but it also covers a process that varies from child to child, because each child's curiosity and body recognition process is different, so the beginning is actually for you, as a parent, to follow the clues given by your child.
During the narration, stories, Puppets and games can be used. For example; While Ayşe was playing with her friends in the park, an uncle came to her and said that if she came with him, he would buy chocolate (or take her to her mother's father). “What should Ayşe do in this situation?” By creating stories like these, you can both learn the child's knowledge on this subject and tell him what to do when he encounters such a situation. You can create similar stories using toys and puppets at home and transfer information within the game.
Read: 0
