New Delhi, 17 December 2021 – The Kerala government on Tuesday, 14th December 2021, released a short, animated film on sex education for children. Aiming to educate both children and their parents on the importance of sex education, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, posted a short-animated film through a Facebook post. The film ‘Ami, Adi C/o Sanju, Manju’ was made by the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and the Women and Child Development Department (WCDD).
The idea of imparting knowledge on the much-required, but less-talked-about topics, like sexuality and sexual health, encouraged WCDD and ICDS to come up with a way to provide the first lessons on the subject through a video format so that children are able to gain healthy knowledge on the same from their homes itself. This move has been considered important after observing the perils of students imbibing/learning half-baked information on sex education.
Sex Education For Children in Kerala – Inputs from the CM
In his Facebook post, CM Vijayan said that the misleading and misinterpreting information on human sexuality shall continue to obstruct the idea of the evolution of robust male-female relationships as well as gender equality. Without correct information on this subject, children will continue to garner (collect) incorrect or half-true details.
He also pointed out how it is important to offer students the correct, scientific, and rational information on sex education, that too in a civilised way so that the modern society can grow and create an understanding amongst the upcoming generation.
Sex Education For Children in Kerala – Purpose
The message in the short film is simple and more parent-oriented: ‘Educate your children about sex education at home before they learn it from the wrong sources.’
The film also insists that parents must answer various queries of their children regarding sex and gender instead of avoiding them or telling them that it would be taught at school. If the parents do not convey the answer, children may resort to their own means to form false and misleading opinions on reproduction, sexuality, and even their own bodies.
Sex Education for Children – Support the Initiative*
*Please consider the below-mentioned examples as personal advice of the writer
One needs to understand that sex education is not a single tell-all discussion. It should be taken as an adventure of teaching children the basics of human life – mind and body. Discussing sex and sexual health should not be considered taboo. The information should be imparted subtly and gracefully.
For instance, if there is a pregnancy in the family, parents can let their children know that a brother or sister is growing in a special place inside the mother called the uterus. If the child asks for more details, parents should not end the conversation stating that they are too young to understand. Have a little faith in them and consider these examples:
How are babies born?
Parents may consider saying that doctors and nurses help babies who are ready to be born. In case the child wants more details, parents can let them know that a mother usually pushes the baby out of her body.
How do babies get inside a mommy's tummy?
Parents can say that a mother and a father make a baby by holding each other in a special way.
As a child matures and asks more-detailed questions, parents can provide responses appropriate to the child’s age. It is better to answer specific questions using correct terminologies.
Where to Watch Ami, Adi C/o Sanju, Manju?
A wonderful way to showcase the issue with a powerful message at the beginning itself, “Let’s be Frank”, this video has garnered more than 20,000 likes and 328K views. People interested in watching this beautiful and meaningful short film can see it here.
ലൈംഗിക വിദ്യാഭ്യാസം വീട്ടിൽ നിന്ന് തന്നെ തുടങ്ങാം.
ലൈംഗികതയെക്കുറിച്ച് നിലനിൽക്കുന്ന അശാസ്ത്രീയമായ ധാരണകൾ ആരോഗ്യകരമായ സ്ത്രീ-പുരുഷ ബന്ധങ്ങൾ സൃഷ്ടിക്കുന്നതിനും ലിംഗ നീതിയിൽ അധിഷ്ഠിതമായ സമൂഹം വാർത്തെടുക്കുന്നതിനും പ്രധാന പ്രതിബന്ധമാണ്. അതുകൊണ്ട് തന്നെ പുതിയ തലമുറയ്ക്ക് ശാസ്ത്രീയമായ ലൈംഗികവിദ്യാഭ്യാസം നൽകുക എന്നത് ഒരു ആധുനിക സമൂഹത്തിൻ്റെ പുരോഗതിയെ സംബന്ധിച്ചിടത്തോളം അനിവാര്യ ഘടകമാണ്.
ലൈംഗികതയെപ്പറ്റിയുള്ള കുട്ടികളുടെ ചോദ്യങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് ഒളിച്ചോടുകയല്ല ചെയ്യേണ്ടത്. അവർക്ക് ശരിയായ വിവരങ്ങൾ നൽകി സംശയങ്ങൾ അപ്പപ്പോൾ ദൂരീകരിക്കയാണ് വേണ്ടത്. ഇല്ലെങ്കിൽ അവർ ഉത്തരങ്ങൾ തേടി ഒടുവിൽ തെറ്റായ സ്രോതസ്സുകളിൽ എത്തിച്ചേരും, പലപ്പോഴും ശരിയല്ലാത്ത ധാരണകൾ ഉണ്ടാക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും.
ഈ ലക്ഷ്യം മുൻനിർത്തിയാണ് സംയോജിത ശിശു സംരക്ഷണ പദ്ധതിയുടെ ഭാഗമായി വനിത ശിശു വികസന വകുപ്പ് ഈ അനിമേഷൻ ലഘുചിത്രം തയ്യാറാക്കിയിരിക്കുന്നത്. ലൈംഗിക വിദ്യാഭ്യാസത്തിൻ്റെ ആദ്യപാഠങ്ങള്‍ വീട്ടിൽ നിന്ന് തന്നെ തുടങ്ങാം.
Posted by Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday, 14 December 2021
