Debate flies over 'sex play' in kindergartens

[FSUZeta]

plenty of us have had discussions with our children concerning sexuality and sex education. i would much rather inform my children of the facts and statistics and my views and feelings on the matter than have an educator at their school share their views. we also discuss politics, religion, world events, sports, history, etc. with our kids.

i think that the norwegian woman is loony. it is not her place to make the decisions she is proposing for children unrelated to her. that is the parents place.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

i think that the norwegian woman is loony. it is not her place to make the decisions she is proposing for children unrelated to her. that is the parents place.

What "decisions" would the staff actually be making?

Wouldn't they just not be stopping the kids from doing what they would try to do anyway? By this I mean, it sounds like the article really is pushing just allowing kids to do whatever they want in terms of expression, even if it involves pseudo-sexual behavior, with only the proviso that it must happen at appropriate times (i.e. "free time").

That doesn't sound particularly revolutionary nor scary - and it certainly doesn't mean the staff is "teaching" your kids about their sexuality. To feel so is somewhat reactionary, don't you think? The term "learning" does not always mean there is a teacher . . .

[scbelle]

Hmm, interesting article. I think that allowing children to explore their sexuality is an important step in learning. We get so "bent out of shape" about our kids expressing themselves in this way because we have pretty much all been acculturated to thinking that sex play is bad or dirty. And I think that maybe boundaries will be learned and enforced in these kindergartens, and that is a good thing. If you receive the message from a very early age that you must respect others' wishes, then I think you will be more likely to carry that message with you throughout life. I could see great strides possibly being made in the area of respect between the genders.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

That doesn't sound particularly revolutionary nor scary - and it certainly doesn't mean the staff is "teaching" your kids about their sexuality. To feel so is somewhat reactionary, don't you think? The term "learning" does not always mean there is a teacher . . .

I read your post, and then read the article again, and it is a lot less "sensational" then people want to make it. I still don't know if I agree with it.

[Marie]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

What "decisions" would the staff actually be making?

Wouldn't they just not be stopping the kids from doing what they would try to do anyway? By this I mean, it sounds like the article really is pushing just allowing kids to do whatever they want in terms of expression, even if it involves pseudo-sexual behavior, with only the proviso that it must happen at appropriate times (i.e. "free time").

That doesn't sound particularly revolutionary nor scary - and it certainly doesn't mean the staff is "teaching" your kids about their sexuality. To feel so is somewhat reactionary, don't you think? The term "learning" does not always mean there is a teacher . . .

I agree. It doesn't sound like they are introducing anything new...as much as just letting the kids progress through the natural stages of development. My only concern would be that they monitor it so that kids aren't being forced into it anything that they aren't comfortable with by other children. However things like masturbating...making dolls kiss...playing mommy & daddy are all pretty normal.