Learning Parent's Name and Proper Names for Body Parts Should Be Taught Early

I will always believe that children should be children for as long as they can, and they should enjoy their childhood with all the innocence that it brings. They should believe in such things as the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the stork that bought their baby brother. At the same time, I honestly think that in this day and age we need to teach our young children certain things that can help them and prevent certain things from happening. Knowledge is indeed power when it comes to children.

Too many children do not know the names of their parents when they enter school. They know they are mama and daddy and that's about all. They know that daddy calls mama "Boo" and other names, but they don't know either's given name. It is so important that children know their parents full name in case of emergency. A child that is upset and doesn't know their parents name will become a lost child when found by someone after they have walked away from their parents. Knowing their parents full name could speed up the assistance if it is ever needed. By the same token, children should know their full name as soon as they can talk. Children are always getting lost in the store, airport, etc. It amazes me that the announcer will announce, "We have a child who answers to the name Junior at the information desk."

Parents give their children cute names for body parts, and children who enter high school still use those names or the names they have heard from friends or the television. Knowing correct names for body parts will help parents as they talk with their children each day. Teaching children the correct terms for male and female genitalia should be taught just as we teach other parts of the body. If it is made as simple as the rest of childhood there will be no trauma to the child, maybe to the parent/grandparent, but not to the child. It is as simple as this: "This is your eye, this is your thumb, this is your toe, this is your penis". The only question that most children will ask is why Johnny has a penis and I (Mary) don't.

If we teach them the correct names, it will make life simpler for them and for us as parents. They will be able to tell the doctor, teacher, police and most importantly us what the problem is. We as parents have to remember that a "wee wee" to one child is a "pee pee" to another child, but a penis is a penis. Even with this knowledge children will still enjoy their childhood, but they may ask about Ken and Barbie.