I reviewed two DVDs with my kids last night from the National Training Organization for Child Care Providers. They were called "The Birds, The Bees, and Me: For Boys" and "The Birds, The Bees, and Me: For Girls" and are short (about 17 minutes each). The Birds and Bees DVDs are a fun introduction to puberty, sex, and childbirth for kids 8 to 14 years old, but I think are most appropriate for the 8 to 10 crowd. The script is basically the same for both videos and includes the same clip from a pediatrician. However, the DVD for boys has a young man named Jason narrating and the one for girls has a young woman named Sara as the narrator. Both narrators are young, attractive, white and appear very comfortable with the subject matter.

Both DVDs have cute animated graphics. Our favorite was of an erect penis with hearts that fly off it. The message in both DVDs is clear--sex requires responsibility, do not rush into adulthood, sex is a decision and abstinence is the best option. These DVDs reinforce how normal puberty is and discuss sex (as baby making) very matter-of-factly. I liked the fact that the DVDs state repeatedly, "talk to your parents, grandparents, teachers, or doctor," "ask any questions," and "it is normal for you, and parents, to be a little embarrassed."

My kids both said the same thing--these DVDs are a great start for a parent who is a little shy about bringing up these issues with an 8 to 10 year old. Both also said that older kids would find them a little "cheesy," and parents would have to include information about condoms and birth control. They also wanted a female doctor on the DVD for girls, but that was a secondary consideration.

In addition to being used by families to begin the “sex talk,” I think these DVDs could be used at Parent Education sessions as an ice beaker and way to encourage parents to start talking to their kids about sex, if they have not started already.

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