Dr. Rajan Bhonsle
Pronounced as India’s top sexologist by India Today, Professor Dr Rajan Bhonsle, MD, is a senior sex therapist and counsellor from Mumbai, practicing for more than 35 years.
Dr Rajan Bhonsle has authored six books on sex education and human sexuality. He passed his MBBS from Grant Medical College, Bombay in 1981. He stood FIRST in the MD examination of Bombay University in the year 1985.
Dr Rajan Bhonsle has written more than 1200 articles in India’s premier publications such as India Today, Times of India, DNA, Hindustan Times, Asian Age, Mumbai Mirror, Mid-Day, The Afternoon, Femina, Cosmopolitan, New Woman, Men’s World etc. LESS
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Today’s parents are becoming more and more aware and open to actively educate their growing children about ‘sexuality’. However often they are faced with dilemmas such as – “How and when should we educate kids about sex? How much do we tell the children? If we say too much – too early, will it harm them psychologically? Will it encourage them indirectly to experiment and become sexually active?”
A modern parent is quite convinced that it is necessary to make children feel comfortable about their own sexuality from the very beginning. This prepares them and make it easier for them to ask any further question about sex, without any inhibitions throughout their lives.
As children grow, parents and teachers can educate them further by giving them age-appropriate yet correct information, so that they can make healthy and responsible decisions about their sexuality.
Often parents are concerned that telling children too-much-too-soon in a way can harm them, or will encourage them to become sexually active earlier in their lives.
It is necessary to know that education and information would not encourage children to be sexually active prematurely. On the contrary, it helps them to make better decisions about sex, when there are no restrictions on what they can ask and talk about at home and when they have all the necessary knowledge they require. This helps them to be better equipped at protecting themselves against sexual abuse, molestation, incest, STDs and even unwanted pregnancies.
There is information that is more suitable for children at particular ages. For example, a 5-year-old child must know the right names for his body parts, including sex organs and that his genitalia is a ‘private’ part which should never be touched by anyone. Such training at an early age goes a long way to prevent sexual abuse, which is so common in society today.
It is not always necessary to have a major discussion with children each time they ask a sexual question. It is so important to first listen to them carefully. They may just need the answer to one question right now and that is perfectly fine. Always be sure that you are answering the question precisely, rather than talking in general terms. It is good to clarify decently, if you are not sure what your child is asking. Make sure that they know that they are always welcome to ask follow-up questions.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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