China, a sexually repressed society where any utterance of the three-letter word will be seen as sordid and dishonorable, where all are expected to remain pure until the marriage bed…is what people might have said some 50 years ago.

The concept of sex to my generation has significantly transformed and adapted along with the rest of society’s immense reforms, a point that some antiquated education curriculums and parents have been rather oblivious to.

Growing up, I noticed a gaping dissonance in attitudes towards sex and other equally taboo topics within my different circles of friends. These differences came in various forms but seemed to be aligned with race and sexuality. In 4th grade, some male friends openly wondered about sex. In 5th grade, some classmates began joking about genitals. By the end of middle school, some had already experimented with varying degrees of intimacy. I also noticed conflicting attitudes from parents, with some parents still demanding their children close their eyes during a make-out scene on screen, while others handed out condoms to their kids.

The point is, our generation is one that is more sexually emancipated, and our education and attitudes (from parents especially) need to start catching up.

I recall that I was only given one unit of sex education, which was conveniently lumped under the umbrella of science. Topics included fertilization, signs of puberty, the menstrual cycle, and reproduction. Although many parents and teachers were and remain content with such a simple biological and factual approach, I noticed that none of the information was applicable to real life. It disregarded, in my opinion, more important topics.

Using the menstrual cycle as an example, we weren’t given any provisions, as young girls, on the signs of menarche, dietary needs during your period, ways to deal with period cramps, and the duration of a healthy period, not to mention the choice for different products and how to use pads or tampons (the latter of which is a nerve-wracking concept to many girls). In addition to that, on the topic of sex, we were never encouraged to have our own opinions on it, we were never told the importance of consent, contraception, or warned of accidental pregnancies. Although the last is less likely and teen pregnancies have largely been on the decline, the possibility of it, the responsibility, and damage that accompanies it should not be brushed aside. We weren’t even told a safe age or legal age to begin having sex, how our bodies may react during and after it, or the possible consequences of adolescent sex.

Going back to being more sexually emancipated, some fail to recognize how sex has evolved from the generic, penetrative act between a man and a woman. For many students who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, normal sex-ed may not be enough, and research has shown that there has been an increase in sexually transmitted infections between LGBTIA+ students, possibly due to a lack of nationally standardized sex education that is inclusive of niche groups. Furthermore, sex has grown to take the form of more than penetration. Oral sex, anal sex, and kinks have become more popularized (whether we like it or not). These should all be referred to, to ensure a more holistic, informative, and comprehensive curriculum. I understand that it may be uncomfortable for a variety of reasons, but their existence is undeniable, and leaving our students uneducated on such topics could lead to dire consequences.

I get it, sex is a taboo, discomfiting topic that many are uncomfortable talking about, however, what’s more worrying is if we simply let students continuously be misinformed and uneducated on the topic, left to rely on what their parents are willing, or unwilling to inform them of.

Also, I do recognize that some schools offer great sex-education courses, and this article at its core isn’t meant to bash any specific school, but rather use this opportunity to address and bring attention to an all-encompassing issue that could otherwise be awkward to discuss.

KEEP READING: Why No Sex With Students is a Good Thing

Images: Unsplash

If your week is in need of a refresher for baby and you, there are plenty of opportunities in Beijing to bring some color and life into your schedule. Take advantage of the many playgroups around the city, which give moms (and dads) the chance to break the solitude that sometimes comes with caring for a newborn or toddler, and the opportunity to meet and befriend other parents. Here is an updated list of groups that also offer a safe and stimulating environment to promote the cognitive and physical development of your little one. Get out the baby-bag, pack up the formula, dust off the stroller and call a Didi – it’s time to play!

Bumps to Babes: Little Puppies, Little Roosters, and Little Monkeys
The Bumps to Babes (B2B) volunteer groups in Beijing offer a varied range of free playgroups at the Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) campus and CISB Kindergarten. Catering for different age groups (named after the animal that represents the year your baby was born according to the Chinese calendar) and locations for both expecting mothers and families, there’s truly something on offer for everyone.

On Tuesdays, the Little Roosters group offers playmate time for babies born between February 2017 and January 2018. The Little Puppies group takes place every Wednesday and caters for babies born between February 2018 and January 2019. The Little Monkeys group is held every Thursday and serves parents who have babies that were born between February 2016 and January 2017. And every Friday, the B2B CISB group offers a mixed age playgroup.

To find out more information and be signed up to these and other groups on offer, please email beijingbumps2babes@gmail.com. Be sure to ask to be added to the B2B Beijing WeChat group, which provides a chance for moms and dad to find out about family-friendly deals around Beijing.

Panda Chinese Playgroup: Chinese Sing Song Time
Join in the sing-along every Monday and Thursday. Expect structured activities centered around Chinese music and play. This vibrant group caters for babies from 0-6 months, and ayis are welcome. Warm up the vocal cords, shake a tambourine and get ready for good vibes, baby laughter, and a good natter with fellow moms and dads.

RMB 80 per class. Every Monday and Thursday 10-11.30am. Apartment 401, Unit 1, Building 32, Xingfuercun, Chaoyang district.

BSB, Sanlitun/Shunyi Baby & Toddler Playgroup
The British School of Beijing, Sanlitun (BSB Sanlitun) and British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi) play host to both new parents and families that have managed to get a year or two under their belt. These fun-filled playgroups incorporate free play with more structured activities for children between 0-3 years old, not to mention the chance to take a peek at the schools’ beautiful campuses.

Free. Every Wednesday (Sanlitun) and Friday (Shunyi). 9-10.30am, (Sep-Jun). The British School of Beijing, Sanlitun. (receptionsltey@bsbsanlitun.com). The British School of Beijing, Shunyi. (8047 3588).

Safari Time Songs for Infants and Toddlers
Fancy an exotic trip on a Safari with your little one? It’s time to shake a leg and get moving, singing, and dancing. There are classes available for both babies and toddlers and these weekend song sessions have been a major hit with parents. If you’ve got a child of 3 – 18 months old or 18 months – 4 years old, bring them to The Bookworm and enjoy songs and rhymes from around the world; great for brain development and great fun for mommies and daddies.

RMB 80. Every Saturday. The Bookworm. Safari Time Songs (Toddlers) 9.30 – 10.30am. Safari Time Songs (Babies) 10.30 – 11.30am. 

Hello Future Kindergarten Songs and Stories 
Join Hello Future Kindergarten for a toddler playgroup every Tuesday morning from 9.15 to 10.15am. Read, sing, dance and do crafts for the kids, with coffee for mom and dad. Kids should come with a parent – no ayi, please. The class is appropriate for children aged 6 months to 3 years.

RMB 70. Every Tuesday. Hello Future Kindergarten. 9.15-10.15am. (8430 8332)

The bond between parent and baby during the early months is often at the forefront of moms’ and dads’ minds. Before your baby is even born, parents-to-be are encouraged to start the baby bonding process. We are told to talk to baby in the womb, play classical music to soothe, massage our growing midsections with therapeutic oils, sing to and woo our developing little ones.

These bonding tips only increase when baby arrives and the next phase of bonding must commence. Plenty of skin-to-skin contact, baby massage, co-sleeping, bath-time routines, storytelling – the list goes on. Often the way we are encouraged to bond with our babies runs counter to the advice parents are given to prioritize healthy living. Exercise and diet regimes galore are pushed on every expecting mother, but how to combine this with bonding with your newborn is a growing challenge. Enter baby-friendly yoga classes.

Mother of two Rose Scott has initiated a new opportunity for parents to bond with their baby using movement and exercise. Rose describes herself as a positive and energetic yoga instructor, certified with Yoga Alliance 200RYT. A Beijinger for the past three and a half years, with a son of four and a one-year-old daughter, Scott’s premise for her intimate Mommy and Me yoga classes is to promote bonding between parent and child through physical activity, while encouraging joy and health in movement.

Lots of wonderful mommies in the city have been more than delighted with Rose’s classes, after giving them a go with their babies and little tots. Mom of 11-month-old baby boy Alex, Cecilia says that the Mommy and Me Yoga sessions are the highlights of her Tuesday mornings, “Every Tuesday morning is the most enjoyable time for me and my baby!” The classes, which are open to moms with children of all ages, are the perfect way for moms to enjoy movement with their kids, as well as a host of other benefits, “We can make new friends here, meet mommies from all over the world, share our stories – the little ones can also play with each other, it’s just perfect for full-time mommies!” added Cecilia.

Mom of two-year-old daughter Valerie, Janine also can’t stop singing the praises of the Mommy and Me Yoga sessions, “My daughter Valerie always looks forward to joining the yoga classes – she even practices the yoga exercises at home before we join.” There seems to be a buzz in the air over the chance to join these wellness-focused and interactive yoga sessions. Why not reap the benefits of a decision that will provide continued bonding time between mom and baby and add an element of physical activity to your week?

Downward Dog yourself into bonding time happiness and Child Pose into self-care and wellness for your child. Give Mommy and Me Yoga class a go. RMB 60 per class. Ivy Bilingual School, Sanyuanqiao. Every Tuesday. 9:45am – 10:30am. WeChat: rosier-scott.

Photos: courtesy of Rose Scott

Beijing’s young learners are encouraged to explore contemporary art through a series of specially designed events at M Woods Museum in the 798 art district. Facilitated workshops and field trips use inquiry-based teaching methods to help students develop critical thinking skills, improve their level of English and creatively engage with materials and concepts.

Students from participating schools are invited into a world of discovery through English-language guided tours, early bird private led or self-guided tours, exhibition analyses and discussion, thematic practical exercises and workshops that can be facilitated in-house or in schools.  Expert teachers guide students in talking about the works that they see, and helping them to think about art as a form of inspiration and reflection of the world and societies we live in.

The six featured workshops; Recipes for Art (ages 4-5), Places and Spaces (ages 6-8), Characters (ages 6-8), Landscapes, Real or Imagined (ages 9-10), Transforming Everyday Objects (ages 10-11) and The artist at Work (ages 12+) have been running from November 3 and will continue until February 24. Each workshop focuses on an exhibition of the works of Nicolas Party.

The immersive workshops are not only held in-house but are consolidated into comprehensive lectures facilitated at schools throughout Beijing and are led by experienced M Woods educators. Students discuss the context of the current exhibition and share their responses to themes. Finally students create their own artwork as a form of exploration of what’s been observed.

The family workshops for parents and groups of up to ten kids include a tour of the exhibition and a creative workshop afterwards. The school field trips for students are limited to 20 participants and also include a workshop. All this insight can be gained for the price of RMB 150 per child or student. Follow and reserve your ticket using the M Woods official Wechat account: MWOODSBeijing or visit www.mwoods.org for more information.

Photos: courtesy of organizers