Talking to Toddlers About Sex

And you thought you wouldn't have to deal with this topic until your kid was a teenager. Ha!

According to the Mayo Clinic, it's never too soon to broach the subject. The clinic's Web site has done a tasteful job of answering some often-asked questions about sex, the difference in boy-girl body parts and playing doctor.

Funny I should stumble across this Web site because my 18-month-old son has recently started calling his penis a "boo-boo." My husband and I have no idea why he chose that moniker and we realize that at some point we're going to have to give it a real name. But what? And when?

It's not an easy subject to bring up at playgroup either. "So, what does your son call his little fish?" "What words do you use to refer to your daughter's private part?"

These are serious questions, and how we address them can play a role in how our children view their bodies and their eventual sexuality. They need to be handled delicately but certainly not treated as taboo. Perhaps this Web site can be a good start.

Here's the link: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sex-education/HQ00547