Sex education in the

Kindergarten classroom

By Chloe Garcia
Winter 2021
Class expectations

To respect
To be embarrassed/uncomfortable (no yums or
yucks)
To privacy
To be heard (make space, take space)
To your opinion (but own your intentions and
impact)
To ask questions
To not have assumptions made about you
To confidentiality
To pass
What do you
think when you
hear
“sexuality
education in
schools”?

What about
“sexuality
education in
kindergarten”?
 • From Kindergarten to Grade 11; 5 to 15 hrs per year, per student.

The Quebec sex ed • Compulsory, no exceptions allowed

Curriculum
• Age-appropriate
• Collaborative approach
• Guided by pedagogical frameworks
 “Research has shown that
Teaching sexuality children who suffer
violence often do not
in Kindergarten report it, either because
they are unable to do so,
and elementary: or because they are afraid
to report incidents to the
“But aren’t they authorities” (United
too young?” Nations, 2006, as cited on
statscan.ca)

“60% of sexual
abuse/assault
victims are under the
age of 17”
(sex assault.ca)
The
curriculum
• Sexual Growth and Body Image
o Identifying parts of the body
o Giving examples of what
they can express and feel
with their bodies
• Pregnancy and Birth
o Explaining the steps in
making a baby
o Naming ways to welcome a
baby into the family
Teaching sexuality in Kindergarten
and elementary:
“But aren’t they too young?”
 Teach that all bodies are unique
and special.
• According to isna.org, ‘noticeably
atypical’ genitals are common: 1 in
1500 to 1 in 2000 births.

Teach appropriate terminology

http://www.adapt-fl.com/files/GoodTouch-BadTouch.coloring.pdf (no cookies or noodles!)

Sexual Growth &

Body Image: Strategies
Avoid shaming
children's behaviors
and questions (+ not
all behaviors are
evidence of assault)

Avoid making
assumptions
(double-check
questions)

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/
ages-stages/preschool/Pages/Sexual-
Behaviors-Young-Children.aspx
Teaching sexuality in Kindergarten
and elementary:
“But aren’t they too young?”
 Teaching about assault and
consent does not have to be
R-rated!
Aim for description over
terminology-based: “when
someone touches you here
and you feel this way…”
Teach grown-ups can be
wrong – (good secret, bad
secret)
Teach consent through
modelling yes, no, and
reactions to refusal.
Sexual Growth and Body
Image: Strategies
 Activities
• Read – there are tons of book out
there
• Explore facial expressions (YES, NO,
UNSURE)
• Role play – consenting in everyday
life
• Dolls (private parts)
What about stick the ovaries on the uterus?

Watch more episodes

Teaching sexuality in Kindergarten
and elementary:
“But aren’t they too young?”
 • Take off the adult glasses!
Teaching about conception,
fertilization and
implantation is not sexual to
children
• Teach about ALL families
and ways of bringing a child
into the family (in vitro,
adoption, fostering)
• This book comes with a 60-
page guide to explain why /
how it was made, and to
help you use it:
• https://static1.squarespace.
com/static/59e57b9529f18
7abf9bc69e8/t/5a38a16641
920265d1cdeef2/15136607
Conception, Pregnancy and 96110/WMAB-Readers-
Guide.pdf

Birth: Strategies
Need support?
• Quebec teachers can get professional development and find
resources (lessons, etc) online:
• Ministry:
http://www.education.gouv.qc.ca/en/teachers/dossiers/sex
uality-education/support-for-the-network/
• School boards: consultants, workshops
• Learn:
• https://www.learnquebec.ca/sexualityeducation
• https://educationsexualite.recitdp.qc.ca/ (mostly
French)
• Your local community organization (Heads and Hands,
ACCM)
 • Be inclusive –try to steer clear from
heteronormative and bi/homo/transphobic
languages.
• “Someone with a penis… someone with
a vulva”
• Normalize without the normal
General tips • Avoid slang (correct where possible).
and tricks • Check in with yourselves before answering.
Do you bring any values or bias to the
topics you are teaching?
• Avoid sharing personal beliefs and
statements- instead, perhaps ask “Is it
possible that…” or if you must share an
opinion “In my personal definition of…”
Checking in:
Do a values clarification
exercise:
https://docs.google.com/for
ms/d/e/1FAIpQLScuFUdf5tM
lWx_KZaWGj3KkRv30SGC11
NtC7aXnFXfjZph5-
A/viewform?usp=sf_link

Discuss with another trusted

adult or colleague if you have
questions or concerns.

Consider abstaining from

facilitation if needed (there is
no shame if it is not for you!)
To check out the full document:
https://www.shorecentre.ca/wp-
content/uploads/Values-Clarification-
Exercise-Teacher.pdf
You can reach me at:
Chloe.Garcia@mcgill.ca

THANK YOU!!
Some links
• https://ourkidscenter.com/learn/h
ow-to-educate-children-about-
abuse/
• www.sexassault.ca
• http://sexedtoolkit.com/
• http://www.education.gouv.qc.ca/
en/references/publications/results
/detail/article/learning-content-in-
sexuality-education-1/
• www.Statcan.ca
• www.plannedparenthood.ca
• www.sexualityandu.ca
• www.ISNA.org
• http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/cu
r/physhlth/hs_k-
8/blms/index.html#kblm
• http://www.pbs.org/newshour/up
dates/spring-fever/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=h3nhM9UlJjc&t=32s
• https://www.rainn.org/articles/talk
ing-your-kids-about-sexual-assault