The Relevance of Sex Education in Improving Children's Understanding of Gender Concepts in Kindergarten

Nurhafizah, Zulmiati, Wulan Rahmadia Novera, Rahmi Taqwa, Stefany Yunita

2025

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relevance of sex education for early childhood in enhancing kindergarten children's understanding of their gender identity and roles. This study uses a descriptive qualitative approach with semi-structured interview techniques with 35 kindergarten teachers from five kindergarten educational institutions in Padang City, Indonesia. Data were analyzed thematically with a focus on teachers' perceptions, attitudes, knowledge, and readiness to implement sex education. The research results show that although some teachers acknowledge the importance of sex education from an early age, they still experience confusion regarding the material that needs to be conveyed, the appropriate teaching methods, and the suitable age limits as well as adequate media for its development. Some other teachers consider this topic inappropriate because it contradicts cultural and religious norms. This study also found a lack of training and educational media to support the implementation of sex education in kindergarten settings. This study is limited to kindergartens in the city of Padang and has not yet involved the perspectives of parents or teachers in rural areas. Further research is recommended to encompass a broader demographic context and collaboration between teachers and parents. The findings of this study highlight the need for teacher training, the development of culturally appropriate learning media, and more open training to change misconceptions about sex education. This study fills a gap in the literature on early childhood sex education in the context of conservative cultures. This research contributes to the understanding of the practical and sociocultural barriers faced by teachers, as well as offering practical strategies for policy development in the curriculum.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Nurhafizah., Zulmiati., Novera W., Taqwa R. and Yunita S. (2025). The Relevance of Sex Education in Improving Children's Understanding of Gender Concepts in Kindergarten. In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Early Childhood Education - Volume 1: ICECE; ISBN 978-989-758-788-7, SciTePress, pages 272-279. DOI: 10.5220/0014070900004935

in Bibtex Style

@conference{icece25,
author={Nurhafizah and Zulmiati and Wulan Rahmadia Novera and Rahmi Taqwa and Stefany Yunita},
title={The Relevance of Sex Education in Improving Children's Understanding of Gender Concepts in Kindergarten},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Early Childhood Education - Volume 1: ICECE},
year={2025},
pages={272-279},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0014070900004935},
isbn={978-989-758-788-7},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Early Childhood Education - Volume 1: ICECE
TI - The Relevance of Sex Education in Improving Children's Understanding of Gender Concepts in Kindergarten
SN - 978-989-758-788-7
AU - Nurhafizah.
AU - Zulmiati.
AU - Novera W.
AU - Taqwa R.
AU - Yunita S.
PY - 2025
SP - 272
EP - 279
DO - 10.5220/0014070900004935
PB - SciTePress