2. Preventing stereotypes conveyed by pornography

Many young people come across pornographic content as early as middle school, long before they have the necessary tools to understand or criticize what they see. Online pornography often presents a biased and stereotyped view of sexual relationships, which can influence young people in negative ways, reinforcing violent or dehumanizing behaviors. By teaching them about consent, respect for limits and emotions, schools can counterbalance these images and give young people healthy points of reference.

     3. Age-appropriate sex education

Sex education in schools is progressive and age-appropriate. Contrary to popular belief, the aim is not to discuss explicit sexuality with the very young, but to explain essential concepts such as respect for the body and emotions, friendships and consent. In junior high and high school, education continues with more specific topics such as contraception, sexually transmitted infections and consent in relationships. This gradual approach meets the needs of every age group.

Challenges and pedagogical approaches: How do schools approach sex education?

Train teachers and involve experts

One of the major challenges facing emotional and sexual education in schools is the lack of training for teachers. Many of them do not feel comfortable broaching these sensitive subjects with their pupils. In order to guarantee quality lessons, some schools call on external speakers, such as school nurses, psychologists or specialized associations. These experts are trained to deal with delicate subjects in a language that's adapted to young people, offering them clear, caring answers.

Create a comprehensive emotional and sexual education program

In France, the law has required three sessions of sexuality education per year since 2001, from kindergarten to high school. However, only 13% of students actually benefit from these sessions. To be effective, a sex education program should include regular sessions, covering a variety of themes, and incorporating interactive activities to encourage young people to express themselves and ask questions. In some countries, such as the Netherlands, where sex education is highly developed from elementary school onwards, results show a better understanding of healthy relationships and a reduction in risky behavior among young people.

Develop emotional management and self-esteem

Emotional education is not just about preventing risky behavior. It also aims to teach young people how to manage their emotions, listen to others and respect personal limits. Learning to express their feelings and respect the limits of others helps teenagers develop strong self-esteem and build balanced relationships.

Arguments for and against emotional and sexual education at school

Arguments FOR

• Protection against stereotypes and violence: Solid emotional and sexual education helps to deconstruct stereotypes and raise young people's awareness of the values of consent and respect.
• Preventing risky behavior: Informed teenagers are better equipped to recognize and avoid dangerous behavior or abusive situations.
• Equal opportunities: The school ensures that every young person receives the same information, even when the discussion is difficult to broach with the family.

Arguments AGAINST

• Parental role in question: Some parents feel that sex education is their exclusive responsibility, preferring to tackle these subjects themselves.
• Complexity of certain topics: Parents may fear that certain topics are inappropriate for their child's age.
• Cultural taboos: In some communities, sexuality remains a sensitive subject. School intervention can be perceived as an intrusion.

Tips for parents: Complete emotional education at home

1. Approach sexuality gradually and appropriately
   By talking about simple topics, such as emotions and respect for the body, from an early age, parents can build a foundation of trust for deeper discussions as the child grows.
2. Answering questions honestly
   Children and teenagers often ask frank and direct questions. Answering them with honesty and simplicity strengthens their trust in their parents and prevents them from looking for answers elsewhere, especially on the Internet.
3. Use appropriate media
   Books, videos and educational apps are available to teach young people about sexuality. Platforms such as Sylex, created by Valérie Abehsera, offer verified content adapted to teenagers, enabling parents to complement school education.

   In conclusion, Talking about sexuality at school has become a priority in the current context, where young people are increasingly exposed at an early age to inappropriate and sometimes violent images. By tackling emotional and sexual education, schools can provide teenagers with benchmarks for building balanced, respectful relationships. To be effective, this education must be well supervised, progressive and include the participation of qualified professionals.

However, schools can't do everything on their own. Parents play a key role in complementing this learning at home, in a climate of caring and openness. A parent-child dialogue based on trust remains the best way to prevent risky behavior and support young people in their emotional development.

The Soft Kids team 🌈