My oldest son is 10 and will be going into 5th grade. At his school, they will be showing a educational video regarding the birds and the bees for lack of a better term. I know that kids are growing up faster and faster nowadays, but I just don't know if I am ready for this. Is he ready? They will let us preview the video and I will definitely go watch it. I have the option to not allow him to see it, but we all know how that will go over with his peers. Plus, they will just tell him about it anyway and I am sure that there will be discussion. It is in his religion class, so I am sure it won't be offensive or anything. I just don't know if I am ready for this. Any advice? Should I just accept that he needs to know this info? I know that he is getting older and I have to "let go" so to speak, but he doesn't seem interested in girls at all right now, is this necessary? Thanks for any advice.

Of course I don't know which video your son will watch, but I'm the person that gives the "girl talk" to 5th & 6th graders at my school (the boys get the male P.E. teacher.)  I can tell you that the video we show to 5th graders is really straight-forward, and we don't talk to the kids about "sex" (which makes it difficult when the girls ask, "So how does the sperm get to the egg?")!  You are right, if your son doesn't participate in the lesson, he will surely hear about it from his peers.  I think it is better for him to hear the information from the adult so that it doesn't get twisted or exaggerated through re-telling from friends.  After he gets home from school that day, I'd suggest encouraging him to feel free to ask any questions he might have about what he saw and heard in the lesson and to not feel embarrassed because you want him to understand everything (or dh can tell him this if you think he'd be more comfortable talking to his dad about it.) 

I think this info is important for kids this age to know.  Many of them aren't interested in the opposite sex yet, but I think they need start getting this information early so they can fully understand how their body is developing through puberty (and be encouraged to have open discussions with appropriate adults regarding the topic).  In 6th grade I know the boys' video we show talks more about wet dreams which is an age appropriate "event", so I think even though it is difficult to think about as a parent -- it is something that is going to happen & kids should be educated about their sexual development.  The focus of the lesson & discussion that I lead is more about puberty and the changes their bodies go through in adolescence and not about sex.  I would anticipate that it would be similar in your situation, too.  HTH

 Thanks for pointing out some things. I agree with everything you said mtgirl. I guess it is just hard for me to admit that my boy is "growing up" and I didn't remember doing anything like that at that age. Do they explain anything about girls to the boys. I am talking about AF. I do remember being in school and it happening to me and the boys found some of my "essentials" and made so much fun of me and I do not want my son to even think of doing this to a classmate. I don't know how or when I should discuss this with my sons. As you can see from my siggy, I have all boys and I know that they definitely don't know anything about that.

Cinderella Dreams:

Do they explain anything about girls to the boys

We do when they are in 6th grade -- they are separated for the lesson, but they both watch the same video which explains male & female puberty and the process of reproduction. You should see how embarassed the girls get when the boys walk back into the room knowing that they just all "learned about each other".  LOL

Cinderella Dreams:

I didn't remember doing anything like that at that age.

I remembering seeing a video (actually it was probably a filmstrip back then ) about menstruation and having our (horrible) counselor tell us that we were going to bleed every month, it's called a period, and you should use pads or tampons.  That was it...no -- Oh, and all of this happening means that you are now capable of becoming pregnant. Thank goodness we've advanced far enough to start educating kids more clearly and accurately!

Cinderella Dreams:

I don't know how or when I should discuss this with my sons

I guess I would suggest 6th grade because more & more girls are getting their period earlier and they may be carrying these kinds of supplies in their school bags -- or have to make an emergency trip to the bathroom.  Thanks for mentioning this -- I hadn't thought about my ds's encountering this situation but I will prepare them to be respectful and discreet should it happen to them!