How do you explain procreation to a 7 year old? I was asked to do this, but i don't know how to handle it.

Question

How do you explain procreation to a 7 year old? I was asked to do this, but i don't know how to handle it.

Answer 1

i dont mean to be nosey...but isnt 7 kinda young to teach a child about that stuff...let the kid play and enjoy life the way it is...do you really think he/she will understand such a deep subject at that age..remember..kids at that age like to blab about things to other kids and the others might not take the same way as your child does..then hose parents arent going to be happy..not everybody believes in procreation..be carefull...good luck

Answer 2

When I was pregnant with my oldest child, my little cousin was 5 years old at the time and he asked me how babies got into their mommy's tummy.  My aunt was horrified at his questioning and she shooed him off.  A week later, he was watching PBS and saw a show that explained things from conception to the actual birth. He ran into the room and announced to my aunt, I know how babies get into their mommy's tummies now.

When my children were younger (they are now 17, 16 and 14), they asked me the same questions.  I do not believe in lying to children.  At the same time, I do not believe that filling their heads full of "technical" terms is correct either if they are young children.

I explained (they each were not much older than my little cousin was at the time) when a mommy and daddy love each other they want to share their love with having a child or children.  So the mommy and daddy make a baby and the baby grows inside of the mommy's tummy until it's big enough to be born.  Then after the baby is born, everyone including the grandparents can love the baby; not just the mommy and daddy.

Now since then, I've had the "s*x" talk with them because of their ages.  I did use technical terms, reviewed subjects like unprotected s*x, etc.  The consequences of teens having babies, etc.  

Yes, it can be an awkward discussion, especially if you are not comfortable with the subject.  But children, regardless of age are going to ask questions.  

I asked the question in 2nd grade. Having an RN for a mother, she pulled out all her medical books.  I knew more than I needed to at 7 years of age; but my questions were answered.

Have faith in yourself to handle the question, answer honestly and in words that are age appropriate for the child.  Do not make up names for body parts.  They need to know the correct words and as a parent it's our duty to see to it that they know the proper terminology rather than the slang.

My two step children just recently saw the movie at school about what happens to a boy's body and a girl's body at puberty.  It was educational listening to them talk about this at home as well as their reactions and outlooks on the subject.  But it also opened a wonderful door of having that conversation with them where they did not feel scared to talk to my husband and I about the subject.  

If you are open with your children and listen and communicate with them, they will not be scared to come to you about anything.  If you don't know the answer, suggest to them; well, I'm not certain but let's look it up together and then we can both learn something.

Good luck and warm wishes.

Answer 3

I bet there are alot of books out there geared towards explaining that type of thing to kids.... maybe getting one of those and going through it together would be a good choice...?

glad I'm not in your shoes xD

good luck =)

Answer 4

The Cat in the Cat.  Dr. Seuss teaches little ones about where babies come from.

Tell the kid that when he gets old enough to not place little rubber things on his body when he's in the dark with a girl.