Birds and bees: When to have THAT conversation?
18.05.12
But the age at which information was given may need to be re-examined, he said.
"I think we do have to look at what age the messages are targeted," Mr Macfie said.
"We need to build the message at the appropriate age. One of the things we have been thinking of is talking to them before they move into adolescence." The age at which girls go through puberty has plummeted and is a partial reason for earlier sexual experimentation, psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg said.
He also believes family breakdown, media bombardment of sexual images and a need for more sex education are other factors leading to a drop in the age of first sex.
The Department of Education, which covers reproduction and health in the Personal Development, Health and Physical Education syllabus (PDHPE), said schools begin general discussions in early primary school. The current course was introduced in 1999 and is compulsory for students from kindergarten to Year 10.
Source: Perth Now