I have not listened to this yet, and perhaps I lack the ability to speak to this as well as the parents here would. I showed my gap in knowledge to mk and wasoxygen last month, but children are more perceptive and capable that we give them credit for.

I don't really like children at all, but I do remember vividly being one, and children do like me now because I always speak freely, openly, candidly, and respectfully to them. I remember nothing was worse as a kid, even as young as five, when an adult would keep information from me, when I already have the gist of the topic. Or they would speak down, as if I wasn't capable of understanding something, or they were afraid to use the phrase "I don't know."

I remember my parents giving me "the talk" about all three of these topics, and clearly remember thinking after all three that I learned nothing new. I learned that I was now allowed to talk about them to my parents, because they had also been shrouded and taboo topics to speak of. I remember lots of "ask when your older"s and deflection. It was disappointing when I'd waited for them to bring them all up, and then they didn't tell me anything new. They, and other topics as well, immediately seemed more of" these are uncomfortable things to talk about" more than "my child is not ready for them."

Which is understandable. Parents want to shield their children from things as thenewgreen said below, but the fact is kids want to know. And they already mostly know anyway. The earlier the door is open to discussion, and the less they feel topics are forbidden, the better, in my opinion. But again, there may be something fundamental I miss here, a dynamic or an obvious factor. It's just something I've certainly noticed being candid with children-- that I HEAVILY dislike-- that they still seek me out more than my peers who like kids even.