Giving my 11yo niece the sex talk – what to say?
I’m in pediatrics so I talk to kids about sex, sexuality, and safety everyday. I talk to kids coming to a middle-high income pediatrics practice and to kids from low-income families visiting free clinics. I feel that if you are finding yourself compelled to have this discussion with her, you’re likely picking up on good reasons to do so, even if you’re not totally sure what’s up in her private/internal life. At her age, middle childhood/early adolescence, it’s awkward because, physically, the normal continuum includes those that have not begun to sexual development as well as those who are at the beginning of the end of that development. Yet–they’re all talking to each other and there are big psychosocial components. I have to assume that your willingness to talk to this about her comes from your own assessment that there is some readiness there–you are dedicated to talk to her and you have looked carefully at her likely responses. I have had girls that age on the exam table that I i
