Parents and schools are under increasing pressure to educate young people (ages 5 and up) about sexuality. In part, this has come about because many parents feel ill-equipped to discuss sex with their children given the personal nature of the topic. Parents are also concerned about sexual content (much of it unrealistic and misleading) on ​​the Internet.

Parents may worry that children will be harmed by information that is inappropriate for their age. It is almost impossible to relate to the information until we have some practical experience. If children do not understand an explanation given to them, they will simply ignore it until they are older.

Children mature at different ages and it is important to anticipate the earliest age children may need information for their own safety. In the absence of formal sex education, children learn about sex (sexual ignorance) from other children, often older siblings or playmates.

Preteen boys (ages 5 to 10) should be aware of the changes they can expect at puberty. Some boys this age may have already experienced orgasm, and some may have started to masturbate. For their own protection, children should be told to be wary of adults (and teens) who may not have their interests in mind. Young children have simple questions related to the world they see around them, such as “Where do babies come from?”

Teenagers (ages 10 to 15) typically experience puberty around this age. They should be informed about the changes that occur in their own bodies, as well as those of the opposite sex. Even if they are sexually inexperienced, many children this age may have started dating or have had intimate contact with others. They should have some basic facts about sexual activity for their own safety. Education must also provide a foundation on which children build an understanding of problems that may arise later.

Children should be introduced to the basics of sexuality early on. This allows them to progress according to their own development. It also helps protect them from the flood of misinformation from other sources (peers, uninformed adults, and erotic fiction). It may also be helpful to educate children before the hormones of puberty foster emotional beliefs that prevent them from absorbing the facts and logic involved in more thoughtful discussion supported by research findings.

Young people tend to be the most sexually active. Although adults may have decades of sexual experience, they are so intimidated or impressed by the confidence of the younger generation that they assume that young people know more about sex than they do. Unfortunately, but quite naturally, the young have little interest in the experience of their elders.

Young people (ages 15-20) will want to know about casual sex and their choice to abstain from sex. Young adults should have access to all available information regardless of their own experience. This will help them appreciate some of the problems that others face. A broader education can inculcate a certain tolerance for diversity among different individuals.

In this age of technology, we often get the impression that the young know a lot more than the old. That may well be true when it comes to the latest gadget or gimmick. Young people do not need the prejudice and ignorance of an older generation. They must be willing to learn from the life experiences of older people. Relationships are usually easier when we’re young, but a lot of things change over decades together.

Mature adults (over 20 years old) also need information about sex. As sexual relationships begin, they may want to learn about the problems that come up in long-term relationships. Some problems only arise as we learn and get older. Long-term relationships (more than 10 years) have particular challenges (including family and professional demands) that have not been encountered before.

Adults tend to assume they know everything without needing to know any facts or logical reasoning. Many lessons from the younger years may have been forgotten or need to be reinforced. Modern fictional media encourage sexual myths and cause people to reject research findings.

In the last thirty years, an increasing number of parents have realized the importance of early education of their children in matters of sex. (Alfred Kinsey 1953)