Hardly can you see a teenager without a romantic relationship these days. The annoying part is that they don't even do such things with their peers but with adults.
By chance, ask any random teenager about their body count, and you would be shocked.
It's such a pitiful thing; these children don't even know what life is all about. Some of them don't even fully know about reproduction and reproductive health, but they are already exploring the main activity.
I don't know about other countries, but in Nigeria, most teenagers, especially girls, don't even know about their menstruation.
A lot of them, including some adults, don't know how to calculate their cycle. They can't tell when they are safe, and when they are expecting their periods.
I am more concerned about the girl child here because they are the most vulnerable ones. They are the ones who can conceive and can easily contract any infection due to how their bodies are designed.
The boy child also needs to know certain things, but majorly his problem lies with taking unprepared responsibilities or contracting sexually transmitted infections; aside from these, somehow we can say he is safe.
Teenagers know the law, morals, and academics but know little to nothing about sex.
Parents, schools, and religions shy away from sex talks because they feel it is going to corrupt the child by exposing them to things higher than their age.
Frankly speaking, they are right on one side, but on another side, they are not. Truly, knowledge is a double-edged sword; it can either make or mar anyone who lays hold of it.
But knowledge is also light; it gives vision, clarity, and direction. It's better that one has the knowledge and willingly decides to go the wrong path than for the person to be in ignorance.
Left to me, as soon as a child reaches the age of ten, whether male or female, parents and schools are supposed to begin educating them on sex.
The world is very evil; these children ought to know what it looks like out there. They are supposed to know what their bodies are saying when they feel a certain way and what to do about it.
Of course, the knowledge can also cause them harm depending on who the child is and what the child wants, but it's best you let them know.
The dangerous side to not educating a child about sex is that someone who wants to exploit them would definitely teach them those things; sadly, the person would coach them the wrong way.
This is how some heartless adults and peers deceive the naive ones and end up taking advantage of them.
As the child grows, each stage should have its level of conversation. At age ten, the parent should know how to communicate to the child about sex; a wise parent will, at this point, state what the act looks like, hygiene, and emphasize the dangers and disadvantages of engaging in the act.
At around 14-17 years, more details should be given, and emphasis should be laid on abstinence as the way out.
Around 18-20, pregnancy prevention measures and faithfulness to one partner should be taught.
Most parents would avoid this, but be assured that there is no guarantee that your child won't indulge in these acts; instead of allowing them to roam about with zero knowledge, coach them.
If possible, know who they are in a relationship with and be their watch. The world is not safe for anyone; we must stand up and protect our younger ones and children; if not, they would end up as a mess.
It hurts me to see young girls and boys with bright futures ending up as single parents, some without even knowing who is responsible, and some ending up with incurable diseases.
Things ought not to be so; many people who are in one situation or another today as a result of sex is as a result of ignorance; if some of them knew what they signed up for, they wouldn't have gone that path.
The earlier we start teaching our children about all these things, the better for us.
N.B: All Images Were Generated By Gemini AI
