Ask Your Boy to Stay Far Away From My Girl

A heated conversation between two parents has gone viral on the Internet in China, sparking discussion on sexuality education in children.

A direct translation of the conversation: (see below for the original):

Girl's Parent: Yesterday, I went to fetch my child Yu Han (The girl) and saw your child Ming Ming (The Boy) kissing my girl in front of other children.

Boy's Parent: Haha. Yes?! Ming Ming indeed likes Yu Han.

Girl's Parent: I feel that that is not appropriate, after all, Yu Han is a girl. Can you please keep an eye on your child's behavior?

Boy's Parent: Yu Han Mama, you are not right to say that. It is normal for kids to kiss and hug each other while they play together.

Girl's Parent: If my child is a boy, I will not mind that also.

Boy's Parent: They are kids, I do not think they know anything about the boy-girl relationship.

Girl's Parent: (voice)

Boy's Parent: Yu Han Mama, please stay calm. I will just ask my child not to kiss Yu Han anymore.

Girl's Parent: Not just that, please ask him to stay far away from Yu Han!

Boy's Parent: How can you restrict children from playing together!

Girl's Parent: If your child is a girl, I think you will do the same thing! You are so unreasonable!

Boy's Parent: I am not reasonable?! You restrict your child from making friends and still dare to say that I am unreasonable.

Girl's Parent: My girl will not make friends with those who behave like a hooligan.

Boy's Parent: You are insane!

Girl's Parent: I can tell you are an uncultivated person. If not, why your child has such a bad manner?

Boy's Parent: (voice)

Girl's Parent: Yes, we will change the childcare center and stay far far away!

Source: The Paper

Obviously, the boy's parent just feels that this behavior is normal and part of the growing up process while the girl's parent is angry. For this matter, the girl's parent even made the teachers at childcare center promise that it will not happen again.

Netizens are divided on this matter. Many feel that the girl's parent is too sensitive and has set a bad example on how to deal with a problem.

Netizens who support the girl's parent feel that the boy's parent takes the matter too lightly and sexuality education should start from a young age.

Parents in Singapore, what will you do when a boy kisses your girl in a child care center?

Professional Guideline

According to a report "Promoting Healthy Sexual Development and Sexuality" by the American Academy of Pediatrics, sexual exploration for children aged 1 to 4 is a normal, universal, and healthy part of early childhood development. In early childhood, children are exposed to social norms and learn boundaries regarding sexual behaviors. Issues related to the timing, settings (eg, public versus private), and spectrum of sexual behaviors can best be discussed in the context of trusting relationships and open communication between the parent and the child.

Middle childhood (5 to 10 years old) is the time to begin providing accurate sexual information for children and give them opportunities to explore, question, and assess their own and their family's attitudes toward gender, sexuality, and human relationships.