How to explain Homosexuality to a Child?

For parents who haven’t done it yet, take it from the one who has, this one’s not a small talk, especially when so many of us ourselves are navigating ourselves to the shifting sand.

This article will be discussing what all you should include in your guidelines when you finally explain homosexuality to your kids. Many kids are getting incorrect and misleading ideas about different orientations via TV and social media. They are developing an unhealthy attitude towards people with different orientations. It is highly significant for you to teach your kid about tolerance and acceptance.

How To Talk To Kids About Homosexuality?

#1. Multiple Conversations

Teaching your kids about homosexuality is a complex conversation, and therefore one talk will not suffice. Make sure that your kid’s interested in the conversation and if they aren’t then better not talk about it. But if your child seems interested and is full of questions, they probably need more information.

LGBT issues are complex, so take help from library books and the internet to get a better insight.

#2. Use An Open And Friendly Tone

While talking to your kid about homosexuality, you need to be very understanding and compassionate. This will help your kid to put forward their opinions without any reluctance. Your attitude will help in shaping your kid’s attitude. Use a very friendly tone when you start any such conversations so that they don’t feel that there’s anything to get worked up about.

#3. Mind The Age

LGBT might be an important discussion for your kids but keep in mind, their age is of utmost significance to you. Small kids won’t be able to handle complex issues like how sexual attraction works.

With preschoolers

If your kid is in preschool, then you can avoid talking to them about any sexual specific activity. They are too young to understand that. Wait until your kids are old enough to be introduced to terms like homosexuality, heterosexuality, gay, straight or LGBT. You can teach them about the basic human relationship quoting your marriage or your relationship with your children.

With School- Going Children

Now that your kid has acquired the basic knowledge about the basic man-woman relationship, you can further it by discussing different kinds of love, like the love for toys, food, friends, and family. This will help them understand and accept the different forms of love. Tell them marriage is a union of two people and why the sexual expression is important to withhold a relationship.

Teens

Teens are obviously capable of dealing with more abstract concepts. When talking to them about homosexuality, you can always discuss the importance of recognizing their sexual orientation. You can help them analyze their preferences and choices so as to evaluate their sexuality. Tell them that it’s not always the same for everyone and God has created every human in a different way. The individual is free to customize their sexuality, sexual morality and their approach towards marriage as per their own preferences.

#4. Use Extra Help

Kids learn quickly from stories. LGBT+ inclusive media can help you to normalize the idea of varied orientations. Be it a story about a girl wanting to touch other girl or a boy with two dads, stories always work with kids.

Browse through library books and pick up the age-appropriate reading or viewing material. If your child is used to reading about the hero and heroine kissing each other, they will surely understand an LGBT couple doing it too.

#5. Defining LGBT

Tell your kids about what LGBT stands for. They should be aware of the various possibilities so that they are aware of what they see or experience. Your kid should know about gay and lesbian people, bi/pansexual people, asexual people, transgender people, etc.

Even if your kid is straight, knowing about homosexuals will make him/her more understanding and supportive of people they meet.

Read More: Talk To Kids About Homosexuality