Health & Science

Sex Education: How Young is too Young?

By Darla Sitton
CBN News

CBN.com – (CBN News) - A best-selling author is pushing to introduce four-year-old pre-schoolers to the sensitive topic of sex.

Her book looks like an ordinary children's storybook: colorful pictures, happy faces, but it's much more.

It's Not the Stork, a sex education tool for pre-schoolers, is the latest in a string of controversial books written by Cambridge, Mass. grandmother Robie Harris.

"It's definitely aimed [at] kids who are four and older," said editor Mary Lee Donovan.

Harris’ recent best seller, It's Perfectly Normal, is geared to 10 -year -olds. And another book, It's So Amazing, targets kids around seven.

"When we answer our kids’ questions in an honest, a straight-forward way,” said Harris, “they feel honored, and if we don't answer them, then we're saying that something's wrong with your question."

Despite its sales success, It's Perfectly Normal was on the American Library Association's list of most frequently challenged books last year, because of its open references to masturbation, contraception, and homosexuality.

After reviewing the stork book, child psychologist Alice Carter thinks it may be too much information, too soon.

"Age four seems a little young," said Carter, "It could be both overwhelming and a little frightening for some children because it's a hard concept, to think about what's inside of me."

And it did not score points with one mom.

"It's confusing enough which shoes you need to put on in the morning!" said Brookline, Mass. mother Karen Chabon.

But that doesn't worry Harris. "I want to make sure the children feel comfortable with this. I'm not asking about whether adults do!" she said.

She said that dozens of other child development specialists endorse her books. So despite the controversy, Harris has decided to publish another volume in 2008— which will be written for two and a half year olds.

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