Doyin, former Big Brother Naija’s housemate, has advised parents to create safe spaces for their children to discuss sex with them and to teach them about sex at a young age.
The reality TV star opened up about sex on the most recent episode of The Honest Bunch Podcast.
During the podcast, she emphasised that many parents are reluctant to discuss sex and other related topics with their children.
Doyin, for example, stated that she told her mother when she lost her virginity.
She was able to do so because her mother provided a safe space for her to discuss it.
“When I lost my virginity, I spoke to my mum about it. I said, ‘Mummy, this thing did not feel this way.’ And we had a conversation. She was like, ‘Okay, this is what you should do. Do you use a condom?’” she said.
She went on to say that if her mother had not created an enabling environment, she would not have been able to open up to her about her sexual encounter. Not just an enabling environment, but one in which the children can ask questions and learn in the same way she did.
Doyin continued, “Parents need to create that kind of environment where their kids can open up to them. There’s nothing I cannot say to my mum. I wasn’t enjoying sex for a while and I told my mum. I asked her, ‘Am I circumcised?’ Because I read somewhere that if you’re circumcised, you won’t enjoy sex. And she was like, ‘No.’ She didn’t make me feel bad about it. She suggested things I should do.”
She then offered some advice, emphasising that if a child is not talking to their parents about sex education, they are learning from someone else.
“So, sex education begins at home.” Parents must foster an environment in which their children can confide in them about anything. “At the end of the day, they’re either speaking to you or speaking to someone else,” she added.
It is still important for parents to teach their children about sex at a young age, and there are subtle ways to do so, such as using age-appropriate materials. This can aid in the development of relationships between parents and children.
