TheBabyWebsite.com
Written: Tuesday, March 1, 2011BIRDS AND THE BEES
Modern parents are too embarrassed to talk to their children about the birds and the bees, a study revealed yesterday (Mon).
Researchers found one in four mums and dads simply cannot build up the courage to sit their kids down for 'the big talk'.
Incredibly, one in ten believe it is up to their child to educate themselves about sexual relations either via their peers or the worldwide web.
The worrying stats emerged in a report commissioned by www.TheBabyWebsite.com, which questioned 2,000 parents on their attitudes towards the subject.
Spokesman Nigel Crawford said: ''It sounds ridiculous, but however well you know your child, and however close you are, the subject of sex is always an awkward one.
''The fact of the matter is that parents never really know how much their children have been exposed to - what they have already heard via friends, school, classmates, and even read in magazines.
''I guess the best way forward is to assume that the child knows absolutely nothing - and take it from there.
''It is so important for a child to know they have parents who are willing to be open and talk to them about everything and anything.
''And if that means getting a little bit embarrassed about the subject matter along the way, so be it.''
The report found modern mums and dads are confident their offspring will learn everything they need to know at school.
In fact, ten per cent said they found it difficult talking about sex, while staggeringly eight per cent said they felt they wouldn't be able to provide satisfactory answers to their youngsters' questions.
It also emerged one in twenty parents think their children will find out everything they need from the internet.
And the same percentage believe it would be impossible to corner the kids for a 'talk' because the children don't confide in them, generally.
A further one in ten said they were praying their other half takes responsibility for educating the children about the birds and bees.
A large percentage of parents (41 per cent) said they they avoided conversations about private parts, sex, and gender differences to 'protect their innocence'.
The research also revealed 18 per cent of people think the birds and the bees talk is the worst thing facing them as a parent.
A third said they didn't believe it was important for a child to hear all about sex from their parents, claiming it would be more appropriate to discuss the birds and the bees with friends or other relatives.
Nigel Crawford added: ''It is silly to think that children could possibly benefit from learning about the intricacies of sex, biology and personal development from anyone other than mum and dad.
''While other people and resources might be able to complement what mum and dad say, surely such life changing and informative issues should be discussed with your nearest and dearest.''
The survey shows 35 per cent of parents with children aged 14 and 15 still haven't bothered talking to their kids about sex.
Of those parents with children aged five to 15 who HAVE had the talk - 63 per cent said it went really well.
More than a third of children on the other end of the talk responded 'really well' and talked about everything in great detail with their parents.
And 92 per cent of parents who plucked up the courage to talk about the birds and the bees with their children admitted they were glad they made the effort.
WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES
Parents
Schools
Friends
Magazines
Siblings
The internet
They should find out themselves
Grandparents
By experimenting themselves
Newspapers
