Using “code” words for private parts can cause confusion later in life, educators warn.
Parents have been urged to stop using euphemisms for “vagina” and “penis”.
DON’T be scared of the words vagina and penis, Australia’s educators are warning parents.
Teaching children euphemisms for private parts like twinkle or peepee is setting them up for later problems, insists Professor Rosemary Coates from Curtin University. And a leader in the Queensland childcare sector agrees that straight talking is the way to go.
Leslie Jones, state manager for 228 Goodstart Early Learning Centres, confirms that while Mary is the favourite code word girls use for their privates and doodle for boys, educators prefer to use the correct anatomical terms.
“Of course we must be sensitive to parents cultural and family traditions and would never go against their requests on this matter but generally educators will talk to children using the words penis and vagina. If a child is using a more colloquial phrase we would never tell them it was wrong but we go along with whatever makes them feel comfortable,” she said.
“Some parents can be embarrassed when their children use the correct words in front of others. They often replicate their sense of shyness to the child,” she said.
Professor Coates, who is a sexologist, said using euphemisms implies that body parts and sexual matters are secretive and possibly unpleasant. The more parents who use the correct anatomical names the more it will become the norm.
“If a whole generation is taught well and have a positive attitude toward responsible sexuality, embarrassment and discomfort will gradually disappear and we will have a healthier society,” she said.
“If other people are embarrassed they have been raised badly.”
She said she believes children should be taught words like penis and vulva at the same time the child is learning the words like nose, ears or eyes.
Meanwhile, many parents continue to hand down the generations weird and wonderful alternatives.
Front bottom and wee-wee are big favourites but many privates are christened with proper human names like John Thomas or Willy John or the highly popular Mary.
“It can get confusing for children when they hear so many different words used by their friends and other adults,” Ms Jones said.
