Now the tutu lives in the toy chest and is no more or less interesting to my kids than any of their other possessions. As parents , we are immersed in these issues, and it can be hard to know what is the right thing to say and do. Ask the Expert I spoke with Michael McGee, vice president of education at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The first thing I wanted to know was how soon parents should start discussing sexual identity with their children. It is hurtful to call people names.
People express their affection for each other in many different ways.
From speaking with an expert, I realized that if I want my kids to feel natural about issues of sexuality and gender identity, I should address them naturally, as the opportunity presents itself. She explained that heterosexuals are sexually attracted to people of the other gender. According to Michael McGee, discussions about sexual orientation can just be part of the continuum of teaching children about roles in the family and roles in society. Dolls are for girls. The point is to stress fairness and flexibility, e.g., if a boy wants to play with a doll, it doesn't make him any less a boy than if he plays with a truck.