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Talking about HIV/Aids to our children
2008-01-17 09:25:39
By Simbiso Machine
Children need to know about HIV/Aids because they might have family members who are living with or who have died from the disease.
They are also hearing about HIV/Aids in the media all the time. As they grow up, they start to think about sex and will need information to keep them safe.
Talking to children about sex and sexuality is no easy task for parents. Some parents believe that talking to children about sex will encourage them to have sex.
This is not true. Research has shown that children who are well informed about sex usually wait until they are older to have sex. Also, children can understand and report sexual abuse better if they know about sex.
Because of HIV/Aids and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), it is necessary for us to talk to our children about sex so that they do not believe the wrong information they may get from the media and their friends. Parents need to teach their children values they believe in.
Children must be taught that HIV/Aids is a sexually transmitted infection that is mainly spread through unprotected or unsafe sex. It can also be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
HIV is also passed on when blood from one person with HIV gets into your own blood. Many people in Zimbabwe have HIV/Aids.
Many parents wonder how they can talk about sex to their children. Talk about sex and relationships whenever you can- for example, when you are watching a television programme that shows people having relationships or sex, people getting married, or a pregnant woman.
Explain that sex is not only a physical act, but that it involves feelings and emotions. Tell your children what you believe about the place of sex in relationships.
Tell your children that it is wrong to have sex with anyone against their will. Both boys and girls have the right to say ``no`` to sex.
Ask your children how they feel about the physical and emotional changes they are going through.
Tell your children that it is good for them to ask you questions about their bodies and sex.
Answer your child\'s questions honestly even if it is embarrassing for you and always help your children to get more information about sex by collecting pamphlets and books.
Also talk about Sexually Transmitted Infections, (STIs) these are diseases people may have when they engage in unprotected sex.
Tell your children that STIs can cause sickness and even death. HIV is an important STI to talk about.
Alternatively, you can ask someone you trust to help you to talk to your children if you find it difficult to talk to them yourself.
What do you tell children about HIV? You need to tell them how people get infected with HIV.
Tell them that you can`t get it from kissing, sharing a cup or book, hugging or being in the same classroom with someone who is HIV positive.
Teach your children how to protect themselves from HIV/Aids through safe sex and that safe sex is sex with only one lifetime partner where both partners are faithful.
Don\'t forget to teach your children not to discriminate against people with HIV/Aids; they should be treated with love and respect.
AIDS affects everyone. Some of us are HIV positive. Some of us know or love someone who is HIV positive.
Often people who are HIV positive don\'t tell anyone else. They don\'t talk openly because they are worried that people may treat them or their families badly. This happens because of fear and misunderstanding about HIV/Aids.
If you do not talk about HIV/Aids, it is more difficult for children to deal with AIDS and death in a family. It also affects the way children behave towards the sick family member.
Sometimes children think it is their fault that their parent is ill or dying.
Even small children need to have AIDS explained to them so they can have a normal relationship with the family member who is sick.
Talking about AIDS will help all family members prepare themselves for death and to find ways of dealing with the loss. All families need to be able to talk about their suffering and grief.
If you have AIDS or are HIV positive, tell your children so that they can prepare themselves for your illness and eventual death. Make plans for their future care and tell them what they need to know about taking care of you and themselves.
You can also tell them about their family history and give them things to remember you by.
Whatever you do, always remember that children will understand sex better if we talk to them about their bodies, feelings and sex while they are still young.
This will make it easier for them to make healthier choices when they grow up. Till next week! Happy parenting!
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