Discussing sexuality with 3 year olds

well then the thread title is bullshit. should have been changed and most of this silly discussion goes away.

 

You agreed with post #5. Enough said.

 

There was a time when girls were yucky to a boy who would end up attracted to them.

 

I have seen that depicted in tv and movies, but I honestly do not recall at any age ever thinking girls were gross or yucky. I wonder whether some boys might feel that or say that because girls made them nervous or self conscious, and the boys didn't understand why they felt that unease or those butterflies? Another example of that expression could be that some boys or girls apparently pick on or even mildly bully someone they think is cute? It doesn't make sense to me that a mere lack of romantic attraction to someone would render them off-putting and yucky generally.

I definitely had little romantic crushes on girls when I was in elementary school way before I hit puberty and before I even understood any details about sex. One of them when I was really young was my babysitter, who was in high school. When I was older and in third grade, I really liked a girl in my class, and I remember being sad because I thought she liked my friend. Valentine's Day and stupid little notes were already a thing by 3rd grade, but some of that started as far back as I can remember.

 

Agreed, I honestly wonder (especially in Preschool - 5th) what instruction necessitates teaching any of this stuff? I'm trying to think of the need in math, English, history, geography, science? Whether I agree with any parental point of view or not, I think much of this should reside with them. Is it that a certain segment of our society is uncomfortable with that notion? There certainly seems to be a philosophy on the topic of gender/sexuality (and some other topics) that wants to usurp parental guidance on topics that don't squarely reside in the academic arena, but that they want to ensure that the young have the "right point of view". It would be good if those efforts happened outside the elementary grade classroom IMO.

 

He was indoctrinated at obedience school, same as humans.

 

probably ‘I dont know. Want to watch some more Spongebob?’

Obviously you’re seriously invested in these types of threads for whatever reason but I’ll just agree to disagree and move on.

 

This gets to the heart of a great philosophical question regarding the work of schools. Again, I would wish to lean on the informed perspective of a child psychologist. In lieu of that, the underlying question might be "to what extent should it be the job of schools/educators to raise America's children?" And it's not lost on me that this particular story takes place in Spain.

To me, there is a fine balance to be struck. To reiterate: I don't believe the art teacher should be teaching these lessons to 3yr olds using Barbie dolls. Should similar lessons be taught to elementary-aged children? There is likely much less agreement on that note and some would suggest that it's different depending upon the age/grade level in elementary school. Obviously, kindergarteners and 5th grade children are vastly different in terms of physical and cognitive development.

Personally, I wouldn't draw a hard line in the sand for or against teaching such lessons to elementary-aged children. In general, though, the burden of raising children appears to be increasing for schools, but should that be the case? Again, balance. Character education and social-emotional learning are essential. As for family structure and gender issues, I'm less compelled to draw a line in the sand.

 

Years ago there was a public meeting at our local high school where they had parents split off in groups around tables and discuss what we wanted high school education to look like. I suggested that we needed teaching ethics. Two people immediately jumped on me saying that sounded like religion, and they wanted nothing to do with that. The rest of the table nodded in agreement and they left my suggestion off the list.

You could teach generalized ethics, respect and consideration for others, and empathy without going into family structure details. Teaching those values can be done without affirming that homosexual behavior is normal.

By the way, two months after my teaching ethics suggestion was shut down, Columbine happened.

 

WTF did I just read?

 

Discussing sex and gender with a 3 year old is abnormal, premature and harmful. Gender is a fixed category from creation not a fluid cultural construct. I'm all for different colored dolls, shaped/sizes and cultural attire. Kids should be taught to love other kids that may not look like them. To teach them gender at age 3 is loony.

 

I assume your intentions are coming from a good place, but I'd push back on some aspects of your response which is very targeted (example in green) and what I'd encourage which is generic human kindness (example in blue). Those in blue I assume are direct interactions with their fellow students? Sandbox kind of rules or aspects of "All I ever needed to learn I learned in Kindergarten" type of direction? I think life outside the classroom should be the teacher of what you are describing in green, directed by parents (coming from parents, friends, grandparents, media allowed by the parent, etc). I think that's a matter of respect to the role of parent and any concern that they'll do it or not isn't the "lane" of elementary and preschools IMO. This is really the same reason I don't want my kid being taught religion from the classroom. While good intentioned, there are some really kooky folks out there.

 

What exactly would you teach elementary school children or younger to achieve these goals of yours?

If after teaching your answer to the first question, how would you answer a child who raises his hand and says two men sleeping together is a sin?

 

About 20 years ago there was a thread debating whether or not homosexual attraction was something we are born with or is it a choice. I made an entry giving my opinion from what I knew of the subject saying I thought it was an attraction Gay people are born with or could experience same sex attraction at young ages and not an attraction they first and solely felt only when they were older. So yes, I thought it could be said children who experience same sex attraction when they are young could be said to have been 'born gay'.

I was shocked and revolted by a response my post received, when a former GC member posted, ' Better not trust lacuna to care for babies and young children,' not so vaguely making a vile insinuation of my character. Being pretty much a 'newbie' on the forums at the time I did not report the post. Others did and it was taken down and the person who made it was banned. It was a permanent bann as I recall and in later years he returned at least two more times using alternate usernames. Since then I have not recognized any post that resembles what he posted towards me that long time ago, but posts like that are frowned upon and will not be tolerated on this forum. When recognized or reported they are coming down. This is a warning.

 

The natural result of emphasizing such “debates”

 

Not a 3 year old which is too young imo, but here is an example of an unexpected benefit to sex Ed in school. The girl may not have gotten this elsewhere and now a child creep is off the street.