The main principles of Let’s Talk include teaching Children about Puberty and Sex Education in a controlled, safe and interactive manner as well as providing correct information that children and teenagers need in preparation for the changes that their body will go through physically and emotionally.  In order to provide these principles throughout the app, I aimed to create information that was, accessible, engaging, and comfortable to deliver for the parent and child.

A problem that became apparent in my research about how Puberty is being taught in schools was the there is a strong focus on the act of  safe Sex. While this is important in the education of young people this is not the same as the teaching of our bodies.

“Sex education is an important piece of that [puberty], but we must keep in mind a simple fact: that sex happens from the context of a body, but the body exists independently of sex.” (Causbie, 2016)

When we think about where we received the core information about our bodily changes and functions, the majority of the time, it was paired with the topic of safe sex. Teaching children to be more “body literate” will guide them to a clearer understanding of what an adult body is rather than what it can do in relation to sex. Furthermore, it will leave them feeling more confident and more in control of their bodies.

“We should also have body education, teaching young people about their hormones and cycles, well before sex is even in the picture. With a deeper bodily knowledge they can become more responsible, educated, and empowered adults.” Causbie, K. (2016)

With Body Literacy in mind, the inclusion of body autonomy was a chapter which was an important one to include in Let’s Talk. Ensuring the young users of the app had the knowledge to label parts of their bodies and knew what each part did. By incorporating this into the App, Children can get more out of their education in Puberty. Especially in regards to girls and their menstrual cycles, which can be complicated to understand, and boys dealing with their first erection. Puberty is a difficult time, giving children the information needed about their body, makes the matter less overwhelming and easier to understand.

To create an app that acted as a tool for a safe education in Puberty and Sex Education which is comfortable to deliver, the help and co-operation of parents is needed. Even if a child is taught about sex education at school in informative and high-quality lessons, it’s still a good idea to talk to them about growing up and that Puberty happens to everyone. It’s important that they feel they can talk to a parent and ask questions during such a confusing and challenging time in their lives. – 3

Including a digital PDF manual for parents with the download of Let’s Talk, means parents can be prepared for what the app features and how best to approach the conversation with their child. Some helpful tips suggested by PlannedParentHood.com and ParentInfo.org state that “little and often is best“. Avoid sitting in a formal situation and having one big sex talk. Another tip is to “Listen hard and talk soft“, try not to lecture you child and listen to what they’re trying to say as this lets them open up and feel more comfortable asking for advice. Sex talks need to be engaged and have real communication to work. Remind them that “Different is normal”, tell them it is normal for breasts, penises, nipples, labia, testicles, and clitorises to come in many different shapes, sizes, and colours. This will make them feel less self conscious about their bodies and avoid comparing them to celebrities and other people they see. (Plannedparenthood.org, n.d.)

To ensure the content for Let’s Talk is engaging, the app must feature feedback to the tasks that are required, such as in a game, puzzle or quiz. Giving the child praise for completing a task will motivate them and make them feel joy for doing so.

When sticking closely to these main principles for Let’s Talk which tackle some existing problems in other forms of Education in Puberty and Sex, Let’s Talk will serve a purpose in giving children a safe, interactive and modern education.

 

 

References

1. Causbie, K. (2016). The Importance of Body Literacy in Puberty | Kindara Blog. [online] Kindara.com. Available at: https://www.kindara.com/blog/the-importance-of-body-literacy-in-puberty [Accessed 14 Mar. 2019].
2. Doyle, L. (2018). When to talk to your child about puberty (or will school take care of it)?. [online] ParentInfo. Available at: https://parentinfo.org/article/when-to-talk-to-your-child-about-puberty-or-will-school-take-care-of-it [Accessed 16 Mar. 2019].
3. Plannedparenthood.org. (n.d.). What should I teach my high school-aged teen about their body?. [online] Available at: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/parents/high-school/what-should-i-teach-my-high-school-aged-teen-about-their-body [Accessed 16 Mar. 2019].