Sex education for children aged 4 to 12 – five days full of lessons, activities and even theatre shows all about sexuality and relationships. It’s ‘Spring Butterflies’ week in the Netherlands. 

The aim is to help schoolchildren prepare for later life by giving them straight-talking information right from the start, but keeping it suitable for their age.

During the ‘Spring Butterflies’ week children at the participating schools have at least one lesson a day on the themes of the campaign.

Cuddling
For the youngest children, the lessons won’t be about sex as such, but things like the differences between boys and girls and about falling in love. They might start off with a lesson about cuddling.

For the older children, subjects include self-image, physical changes during puberty, male and female roles and safe sex.

Internet
Children are being confronted with sex more than ever before, say the people behind this week of sex education. But the images they see are often misleading and need counterbalancing with accurate information.

“Children hear so much over the internet, on TV or from friends. They often use terms they actually know nothing about. So I think it’s good they should know what they’re talking about,” says one teacher.

Shyness
What’s more, the open approach to the topic has other benefits, another teacher adds.

“Lessons on this subject help to create a better atmosphere in the class and less shyness – also among the teachers.”

Confident
Parental involvement is the special focus for this year’s programme. Research shows that children from warm, loving families are generally more confident in their sexuality.

They start having sex at a later age and are better able to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy. They are also less likely to be pushed into having sex against their will.

Vulnerable
There is also a special effort to involve schools in what the organisers describe as ‘vulnerable’ neighbourhoods - poorer areas with big immigrant populations.

Research shows that when parents treat boys and girls very differently, they often go on to display sexually inappropriate behaviour, say the organisers. And in the Netherlands many of these parents live in ‘vulnerable’ neighbourhoods.

The Dutch ‘Spring Butterflies’ sex education week is organised by sexual and reproductive health and rights organisation RutgersWPF, and runs from 21 to 25 March.
 

Illustration: Week van de Lentekriebels (Spring Butterflies Week)
 

Read more about how sex education starts in first grade in Dutch schools, and how Indian teachers are getting used to talking about sex

Read more stories and resources on love and relationships. 

What do you think is the right age to start learning about sex? And where did you get your sex education? Let us know.