Puberty is a stage that involves a transformation from childhood to adulthood. This process occurs both physically and emotionally. During puberty, the human body experiences lots of changes and emotions grow stronger and more powerful. The onset of puberty is usually between ages 6 and 13, but girls often start earlier than boys. Since this stage is hormone-controlled, it affects both feelings and the body. Children in this stage start having more sexual urges and thoughts which make them feel attracted to females, males or both. These feelings often prompt them to touch their genitals (masturbate) to release sexual tension and explore their sexuality. At this stage, masturbation is viewed as normal, but to some people, it exceeds beyond puberty and becomes an addiction. This has raised different opinions owing that children indulge themselves into masturbation unaware of the effects. Therefore leading to the motion; Children should be provided with information about masturbation before they enter puberty.
The proponents of this motion provide various proofs detailing the importance of discussing masturbation with teens. Relaying information about masturbation to teens is of great benefits to their growth physically, emotionally and psychologically. Physically the adolescents can understand that masturbation is normal but needs to be regulated. Emotionally, they need to be aware of the possible arousal agents that lead to masturbation, and psychologically they need to be mindful that they are not alone in it and thus it should not affect their interaction with others or their daily schedules. On the other hand, opponents object the idea basing their arguments to the morality of the society and spiritual orientations. They argue that exposing children to sexual topics can provoke their emotions towards engaging in sex at a tender age. Religion argues that masturbation a sin and therefore there should not be any discussion of that sort with teens.
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Establishing healthy sexuality is an important developmental move for children and adolescent that depends on information acquired and forming beliefs and values about sexual orientation, gender identity, and intimacy. All children and adolescents need to be given accurate education about sexuality and masturbation to understand how to practice healthy sexual behavior. Masturbation is a very important part of human sexuality. Trying to discourage or eliminate the topic from daily conversations does a great disservice to the young people approaching puberty. This is a necessary conversation for parents and counselors with the desire to raise kids with healthy knowledge about their bodies and sex (Ferrari 2012). Though parents may feel embarrassed, awkward or uncomfortable talking to their children, information about masturbation provides an opportunity for impacting skills and concepts that empower children to grow into sexually healthy people. Young children also pick up on their parents'' attitudes on masturbation at a tender age. Therefore if parents can show these attitudes frankly, it may help the children shape their sexual feelings and behaviors.
In support for this motion, there is an argument that masturbation is not sinning and therefore should not be seen as an abomination. Children need to know that it is a harmless expression of an instinctive sex drive and it is usual for anybody to have the desire to masturbate. In a great part of childhood, boys and girls frequently touch their genitals, and they should not be condemned. This behavior should be expressed like keeping one’s feet warm during the winter. Everyone needs to be friendly to their bodies and understand the varying range of senses. For children raised in the strict religious foundation, they should be made aware that this innocent touching of oneself is not the kind of conduct condemned by prophets over time and therefore they should never be ashamed when they fall into the temptation. However, it is also important to educate the teens that though it may be harmless, frequent stimulation of their genitals for sexual arousal may result in obsession.
Growing up children especially those approaching puberty develop a curiosity to know about sex and their sexuality. As they get older, the question becomes more challenging which sometimes forces the kids to look for answers from unreliable sources. If the parents or guardians take the initiative of holding the conversation, there is an assurance of the correct information being delivered to the kids. Therefore that’s why it is important to talk to children early on about masturbation. Also, parents’ engagement in such sensitive subjects such as masturbation with their children opens up room for free communication in the future (Wurtele 2009). A trusting and lasting relationship is developed. It also helps children to understand common changes in their bodies thus hindering their desire to seek information from the internet that can mislead them. Discussing masturbation also helps to show children the importance of communication and will likely make them comfortable to discuss sex with their partners in the future.
Contrariwise, in opposing the motion that children should be provided with information about masturbation before puberty, there are counter arguments provided to support this standpoint. Watson and McKee (2013) argue that parents should understand that masturbation is “a bad fruit from a bad tree” and therefore any conversation about it with children should be condemned. Even if the desire to masturbate may not be lustful, it is often the result of multiple instances of lust. Therefore, the desire to masturbate should be curbed through handling the issue of lust. In teaching sex education, children should be made to understand sex in its naturalness as God created it. Masturbation should not be part of human’s righteous living hence should not be taught to children
Sex education, particularly on masturbation, is said to expose children to so much at a tender age. Children especially those at the onset of puberty mostly tend to ignore advice and act opposite to what they are told as they move on to explore their bodies. Introducing the sensitive topic of masturbation to innocent kids may be a way of driving them towards trying to get into it especially if the information is misinterpreted. This is because in the process they are introduced to triggers such as pornography which they may end up watching later in privacy (Watson & McKee 2013). When the topic is omitted, children grow without the urge to masturbate for a long time. As an alternative, there should be education on abstinence from all forms of sexual activities including masturbation.
Teaching children about masturbation is not necessary since most of them make choices depending on the behaviors of the adults around them. Children growing in a society where such topics are not discussed publicly for instance in developing countries end up not engaging themselves in masturbation until they reach adult life. Such strategies though viewed as primitive helps the children to grow morally upright without unnecessary exposure to subjects such as masturbation. In counteracting the view that masturbation is normal, children need to be taught that they can control various desires through physical exercises. Since masturbation is widely practiced, there is no gain in addressing it openly to children. For one thing, masturbation is prohibited by many myths, especially in developing countries. For instance, a common myth asserts that losing semen drains men a lot of energy. Also, the widespread taboo against discussing masturbation with children proves that there is something wrong about it.
Adding to the non-essentiality of masturbation education to kids, Catholic education resource center argues that masturbation promotes the growth of selfishness, a key enemy of a healthy personality and mature and marital love. The fact that masturbation is not mentioned in the Old or New Testament, theologians associate it with sin, they direct prohibition of engagement in sexual fantasy. Masturbation has also been condemned by many other religious philosophers because of its lack of sexual relationship advocated by moral order such as the sense of mutual contact and human procreation (Endsjo 2012). No evidence that shows masturbation knowledge prepares adolescent for the marriage, priesthood or religious life. Actually, masturbation damages the ability to move beyond oneself. Therefore there is no moral accordance in teaching about the prohibited subjects like masturbation to the future generation.
The controversial argument between various groups in the United States and other parts of the world about masturbation has led to the delayed introduction of the topic in school curricular. In support of teaching about masturbation to children there is claim that knowledge can help teens model their future. If the children are provided with the necessary information, it may help them promote healthy sexual life. It can also promote a sense of responsibility in the younger generation as they are made accountable for their actions early in life. The knowledge also helps teens understand various changes that occur in their bodies in the onset of puberty. However, to oppose the motion the reasoning that masturbation is a social stigma and should not be taught to children comes up. Religion especially the Catholic education resource center refers masturbation as a product of lust.
References
Endsjø, D. Ø. (2012). Sex and Religion: Teachings and Taboos in the History of World Faiths. Reaktion Books
Ferrari, A. (2012). Teaching-Oriented Institutions:“And Those Who Can’t”. In Life After Graduate School in Psychology (pp. 37-50). Psychology Press.
Watson, A. F., & McKee, A. (2013). Masturbation and the media. Sexuality & Culture, 17(3), 449-475.
Wurtele, S. K. (2009). Preventing sexual abuse of children in the twenty-first century: Preparing for challenges and opportunities. Journal of child sexual abuse, 18(1), 1-18.
