Over the weekend I read an interesting article from PBS about sex education in the Dutch schools.

Although the article is a bit more progressive than most of us would be comfortable with, it did offer some interesting ideas.

I am in the process of creating a new curriculum for schools to teach 5th graders about puberty and I want to move away from warnings about pregnancy and disease and rather teach healthy concepts based in an understanding of their reproductive system and how it works.  For example, I think kids would be surprised to learn that the body wants pregnancy to happen so that the species can go on.  That’s why it is so easy for most girls to get pregnant.  Maybe this will inspire them to be more open to precautions.

I believe there is a way to teach about sexuality that promotes a healthy anticipation tempered with respect for their own body and for others.  Our kids will be faced with many difficult choices so let’s give them the knowledge they need to make the best choices.