This is one of the most challenging questions to answer. The first thing you need to do is figure out what they're really asking! Sometimes an in-depth, detailed explanation of the whole process isn't really what is necessary. Tailor the information to your children's emotional and conceptual levels. Authors have taken many different approaches to this topic, so there should be one you're comfortable with using.
Mummy laid an egg
Babette Cole
Mum and Dad tell their children some (semi-) traditional stories about how babies are made... sugar and spice, out of gingerbread, under stones.... The children are far more clued up than their parents suspect and draw some very interesting stick-type figures to explain the truth. Not recommended for everyone, but for some it might be just right!
Recommended for ages 3+.
Reviewed by Annie.
Before you were born: A lift-the-flap book
Jennifer Davis; illustrated by Laura Cornell
This is a delightful story that looks at the nine months of development of a baby in a light hearted but educational way in the form of a countdown from nine months to go. Each double page looks at a month of development with a funny surprise hidden under each flap. In each corner there are facts that may be more interesting for the parents or older siblings - like did you know that with six months to go a baby can suck its thumb? A great place to start for children of all ages asking where they came from.
Reviewed by Erika.
How was I born?
Lennart Nilsson and Lena Katarina Swanberg
This book is one of the best for older children who want to know how babies grow and develop. There is a story through the book which describes the development of a baby from the point of view of his soon to be big sister - but that story is matched by a description of the developmental stages of the foetus. The most amazing feature about this book is the fact that it contains colour photographs of a developing baby from the fertilisation of the egg - through to when the baby is born. This book is perfect for older children in the family.
Reviewed by Erika.
Made with love: How babies are made
Kate Petty; illustrated by Charlotte Middleton
This is a wonderful book for introducing children to the basics of sex education. You can never start your children on sex education too early as they are able to learn the proper words for body parts and sex at an early age. The best part about this book is that the illustrations show people of all sorts of sizes, shapes, and colours. There are also two levels of text - one that you can use for very young children, and then another level which provides more detail.
Reviewed by Erika.
Babies
Anna Sandeman
This sex education book is aimed at children from around 7 years of age, or slightly younger if reading with a parent. Without focusing too much on the sexual element of conception, this book provides a good overview of what happens inside a woman's body after sex and during her pregnancy. There is also useful information about the rate of development in babies after they have been born. A great first factual introduction to where babies come from.
Reviewed by Erika.
 Back to top
|
