Goal
- To teach the child the social rules around penises e.g. not touching yourself in public or showing your penis to people
- To teach the laws and social rules around sex as well as safe sex practices
Why is this life skill important?
Puberty can be a tough time for all teens but especially those with autism. Many parents are really concerned about teaching their children about sexuality and it is often assumed that it is less important to teach young adults with autism about this subject because they feel that they are less likely to be exposed to issues related to this topic. But sexuality education is arguably more important for individuals with autism because they are less likely to learn about it from other sources such as peers, television, etc. It is also crucial for them to understand the difference between appropriate and inappropriate behavior, and to distinguish between the various types of relationships. Young adults with autism should understand what is happening to their bodies, as well as what will happen in the future. It is important to stress that these changes are a natural part of life for everyone, and should be viewed as ordinary not odd or scary.
What age should I begin to work on this life skill?
Though the idea may seem overwhelming, it is critical to start as EARLY as possible and to be as DIRECT as possible! The more you talk with your child about their bodies and sexuality the better. If the child has questions then answer them as fully and directly as possible. If the child doesn’t then find a way to bring the topic up. Ideally you will start to work on this with your child well before their body actually begins to go through these changes so situations like their first erection, ejaculation or wet dream are not scary to them.
Video: Puberty – Penis Week
Sample Activities:
- Bake penis and sperm cookies and decorate them so that they are anatomically correct
- Create a Mr.Penis cartoon similar to the one we showed you in the video to explain to your child about the rules around sex and penises
- Buy books for your child to read in their own time (it never hurts to leave these books lying around you never know when the child will pick them up and take a look)
- Interview a trusted male about penises