Why is it so difficult to explain how babies are made

AnneBeeche

I grew up with children's encyclopedias when I was a kid. Each had an anatomy section, with a page or two on reproduction that had the sense to summarize the subject as it is understood scientifically and rather professionally* for the most part with no need to skirt it. Thus I learned about reproduction on my own rather early on, and there was simply no need for a "talk". The other, more "social" and "psychological" aspects of sex would eventually come on their own with the onset of puberty amongst myself and my friends.

It seems when the average adult thinks of sex, only the social and psychological aspect comes to mind which, of course, is unnecessary for the kid to know. The trouble is that they think the whole subject is like that so they dismiss the entire subject at once, even though the reality is that this aspect really isn't as central as it seems and can be completely ignored in favor of the anatomical and physiological aspects, which are actually what the kid is asking questions about.

Maybe science-oriented parents with biological interests do much better when it comes to "the talk" than other parents for the most part?

* When I was a kid I was conscious and/or sensitive about educational things being written in an intentionally child-friendly "kiddie" style which I felt was condescending and unnecessary because, well, I felt I was smarter than that, and I didn't like the facts being warped for me just because I was a kid. I got no such "kiddie" vibe from these encyclopedias.