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It's perfectly normal or is it?

Our pediatrician recommended a book called, " It's Perfectly Normal " for our boys. My oldest is in 5th grade and they will be taught sex education this year. The teacher warned that some kids, especially the oldest child, may be shocked. My husband and I are considering purchasing this book for our 11 year old.

Any thoughts on this book?

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Permalink Reply by Berleen Hollenkamp on April 9, 2008 at 7:53am

I don't really have an opinion on the book, but I have an opinion on the teacher that thinks an 11 year old will be shocked at what they learn. I learned the hard way that 5th grade is too late to teach sex ed... seriously. My kids learned the majority of what they needed to know from their friends & other kids on the bus or out on the playground. I sat them both down, thinking I was ahead of the ballgame, wondering if I was doing this too soon - only to find out they knew most of it already. Their ideas about sex and such were a little mixed up, but they knew the basics.

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Permalink Reply by Bad Momma on April 15, 2008 at 8:17am

I don't think it is so much the teacher; I guess there are some parents that get freaked out at their children being taught "sex-ed" in school. My husband pressed the issue again last night as to whether we should purchase this book for our son. I decided to ask my 11 year old.

What I found is that :
1. He was embarrased to talk about this topic with his Mom.
2. He thinks he knows most of the "basics"
3. He had no desire to discuss this with Mom or Dad
4. He was a bit uncomfortable about the upcoming day where boys & girls are sent to different rooms to view films about their evolving bodies.

I think by making this a big deal, we are making our children a bit anxious.

I will be interested to see how things go at the end of the month.

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Permalink Reply by LammyAnn on April 18, 2008 at 2:47pm

When I was in 3rd grade, a fellow 3rd grade boy asked me if I wanted to have sex. I am an oldest child, he obviously wasnt.
5th grade sex ed is (in my opinion) a big joke.
I have no answer to what is better, except parents educating their own children.
The only memory I have of sex education in school, was how hilariously pathetic the cartoons were and how brutally awkward it was for the entire class.
I was already pretty well informed (by my parents) of the basics that they show anyway. All the stuff they didn't show, and that my parents hadn't talked about, my 'friends' did.
I'd check the local library and read the book before giving it to your son.
I'd want to be sure that the spin of "perfectly normal" doesn't cross the line of encouraging immoral behaviors. But that's just my opinion.