# Sex education at home: timing

**When should we start talking to our child about sex?**

When you talk with your child about sex: one big talk near puberty, answering when asked, many small talks from early childhood, or leaving it to school.

In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: One big talk near puberty; Answer when asked; Many small talks from early childhood; Leave it to school. Evidence: evidence leans one way. Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational. Best settled: preschool.

- Area: The teen years
- Evidence: Evidence leans one way
- Best settled: Preschool
- First published: 2026-10-03
- Last updated: 2026-10-05
- Page: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/topics/the-teen-years--sex-education-at-home-timing

## Sex education at home: timing: what are the options?

1. **One big talk near puberty**: You have a single conversation around puberty.
2. **Answer when asked**: You answer questions when the child raises them.
3. **Many small talks from early childhood**: You talk in short, age-suited conversations starting when the child is small.
4. **Leave it to school**: You let school lessons cover it.

## Sex education at home: timing: what does the evidence say?

**Evidence leans one way.** Research or guidance points in a direction, but it's thin, small or correlational.

Pediatric advice is early and ongoing

Sources:

- [HealthyChildren.org](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/puberty/Pages/Talking-to-Your-Child-About-Sex.aspx)

## What else is worth knowing?

Children learn about sex from somewhere, and parents choose whether they are one of the sources. Pediatric advice favors many short conversations over one talk. Starting early makes later conversations less awkward.

## Questions to ask each other

- What did we learn and from whom?
- How early do we want to begin talking, and what would a good conversation sound like?
- Who will do it?

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General information, not medical advice. Two parents can each answer this and compare: https://www.raisingyourchild.com/explore?cat=the-teen-years&topic=the-teen-years--sex-education-at-home-timing