5)
Talking to kids about AIDS
. Explain that youngchildren are very receptive to learning parental values. Now is a good time to pass on family values about sex. In addition, talking makes it clear that sex is something you talk about in your family. Another advantage to talking with your children about issues relating to sex is that as they get older, they are more likely to come to you with questions about sexuality issues instead of relying on their peers for answers.
Important Reminders!!!
Before talking to kids about AIDS, be sure you know what AIDS is, how it is spread and how it can be prevented.
Include values along with the facts.
Give age appropriate responses. A child’s intellectual/social development can indicate how much information he or she is ready for.
Answer questions when they come up, don’t put them off.
Old enough to ask is old enough to know.
Just because a child does not ask questions doesn’t mean that he or she doesn’t have them.
It’s okay to be nervous or embarrassed. Just don’t let it stop you from communicating.
You don’t have to feel pressured to give all the information at once.
Very young children (3 to 5 years) have little need to discuss AIDS unless it directly affects their lives. They need only the most basic information; e.g., AIDS is a serious disease and that they are not in any danger of getting AIDS. Children
should not be exposed to environments that put them at risk for infection; e.g., sharp objects, used condoms, tampons,
syringes, blood, etc. Parents/guardians should be cautious when leaving very young children with house girl/boys, siblings, friends, etc.
Children (5 to 8 years) are more likely to hear about AIDS. Although they’re still not ready to hear all the details, they do need to know that AIDS is caused by a virus. Try to keep your response simple and concrete. Reassure them that they can’t get it from casual contact, hugging, coughing, sneezing, dishes or toilet seats. Listen very carefully to your child’s questions. You can determine how much they are ready to know from their questions.
Children 9 to 12 years need a better understanding of the facts. You will need to be specific about transmission and prevention of AIDS.
By early adolescence, a child should know that AIDS is
transmitted mainly through sex, IV-drug use and transfusions, that it is passed through blood, semen, body fluids including vaginal, anal, oral and mother to child.
They need to know that using latex condoms can help prevent AIDS. Most importantly, they need to know they can talk with a trusted adult about AIDS.
Use “teachable moments”; e.g., when you hear something on the radio or TV together, you might ask, “Did you understand what they were talking about?” or “Do you know what AIDS is?”
A good opening statement might be: “We’re hearing a lot about AIDS these days. Have you heard about AIDS?”
Note: This may be a good opportunity for parents/guardians to talk about what the Bible has to say about abstinence,
marriage, commitment, etc.
6)
Role Plays.
Break the group into small groups of three. One person will be a child (5 to 12 years), one person will be the parent and the third person will look on. Instruct the person pretending to be a child to ask, “How does a person get AIDS?” or “What is AIDS?” Allow five minutes for the parent to respond. Have the person who looked on tell how well the parenthandled the questions. Repeat this exercise until each person has had a chance to be a child, a parent and an onlooker. List and discuss what worked well and what didn’t. If available, you can show a video on HIV/AIDS.
NOTE: Facilitator can adapt the role-play to reflect an adolescent to adolescent.
Glove Exercise.
This exercise helps participants know how we contract HIV/AIDS. Give a latex glove to one person in the group. Tell him/her to put it on his right hand (or hand they use to shake with). Ask participants to shake the hand of at least three other persons in the group. Instruct the person with the latex glove to shake the hand of only one person in the group. When this is done bring the group together. Ask everyone who shook the hand of the person with the glove to stand up. Then ask everyone who shook the hand of the persons standing to also stand. Explain that if all the people wearing gloves were HIV infected, the exercise has demonstrated how people contract HIV/AIDS. Emphasize that you do not have to sleep around to get it. Having contact with just one person who has contact with another person infected with HIV is enough.It is not the number of people you sleep with that puts you at risk. It is having unprotected sex with someone who is
infected. Remember, you do not know about the sexual history of others.
7)
Summary/Wrap-Up
Ask participants to:
identify at least three ways that HIV is transmitted and how to prevent infection.
identify at least three signs of AIDS.
explain the advantage of talking to children and others about issues related to sexuality including AIDS.
encourage participants to attend other Christian FLE