An exploratory description of Hong Kong parents’ approach to sex education for preschool children

Although a progressive city by global standards, Hong Kong remains a conservative Chinese region when it comes to discussing sex. This study focuses on the views and attitudes of parents toward sex education programs for preschool children in Hong Kong. These views and attitudes must be taken into consideration to maximize the effectiveness of the aforementioned sex education programs. Three preschools were selected and 27 parents were interviewed individually. The findings reveal that, because of insufficient knowledge and communication skills, most parents lack the confidence to discuss sex-related issues with their children. In addition, they feel uncomfortable when talking about such topics. Nevertheless, all participating parents professed willingness to learn the appropriate skills to discuss sex-related issues with their children. Other related issues, such as the implications for preschools and preschool teachers, are discussed as well. Copyright © 2014 The International Journal of Early Childhood Learning.