Well one of my kindergartners mom was expecting and I caught him talking to a classmate about how "the baby comes out of the private area." I'm not sure what else he knew because I said that was something to talk with his parents about not his friends.
I didn't address a vagina any differently than an elbow. It's just a body part--only secret/shameful if you treat it as such.
Honestly, it is WAAAY easier to tell a really young kid all this than an older one. Young kids are super curious and not embarrassed yet. Mine have known all the mechanics since they were toddlers.
I would much rather tell a 4 yo than an 8 yo.
Full disclosure: I am also the mom who told her 16 yo son (when he got a girlfriend last fall), "You know you can get herpes from a BJ, right?"
When my daughter was 5 I was pregnant. Her cousin informed her they were going to 'cut me open' with a knife to take out the baby. His mom had a c-section and I am not sure what she told him but that is how he heard it. Anyway, I have always called private parts by correct names so I just told her some women do have to have surgery but women usually push the baby out of their vagina. She then had some questions where I had to explain it gets bigger so the baby can fit. I also was very clear with her that this was only to be discussed at home. She has had a few questions since and I just answer them matter of fact and we move on. She knows women are born with eggs that can turn into babies but nothing more than that yet.
getting a book from the library to read with a child. A librarian may be able to suggest a helpful title. That's how my mom explained it all to me as a young child. I think this was prompted by questions I had when she was pregnant with my little sister? I don't remember having any more questions until I was a teen. Of course, we also lived in the country and had animals of all kinds.
I've always said it's appropriate to tell them as soon as they start asking. Start with the simple information, and if they keep asking questions keep answering them. It's never too early, or too late.
My daughter was not quite 3 when her brother was born. At one of my final OB appts she was with me and they were checking to see how dilated I was. She asked me why they were "checking my bum" and I told her they were actually checking the special hole women have where the baby comes out the vagina. She was thrilled about this knowledge and was so pleased that women have 3 holes and men have 2. Shortly after a friend visited who was fairly newly pregnant and she told her, "the baby will come out a special hole!!!"
She is almost 6 (tomorrow!) and she is still quite aware of where babies come out (or many babies). Her 3 year old brother hasn't really asked, so I don't know how much he knows.
Being born is the easy discussion! Being made is harder!
I thought about this yesterday because we were talking about when my boys were born... but we didn’t get into specifics (they are 6 & 4, c-section and VBAC).
When I taught K I randomly heard a student tell his table, “They cut open the mom and pulled out the baby!”
When? When they ask. If they get well into school age and haven't asked, I might mention it in case they got a bunch of misinformation from their friends at school, but most will ask.
How? I would just explain exactly what happens and I would use the correct terminology, defining anything they don't understand. And if they ask where babies come from, I'd tell them that, too.
This is so weird bc reading this I cannot think how I found out as a kid. I remember my mom giving me the “birds and the bees” talk and I was horrified. But I don’t ever remember someone telling me where the baby came out!!! So weird.
I always used appropriate terms for body parts from day one. No cutesy little names. I talked to my dd’s about everything from the beginning. I see the same type of talk now with my grands...boys and girls. This is important! The uninformed kids are the ones who end up pregnant or with diseases because they do not have the correct information. Keeping them “innocent” means being honest about their own bodily functions.
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05-11-2019, 05:20 PM
I'm not sure what else he knew because I said that was something to talk with his parents about not his friends. 
