These are the topics covered in AISD’s “Making Healthy Choices,” which are supposed to be presented in an age-appropriate manner, following the stages of child development:
* Grades Pre-K-2 (ages 4-8): growth and development, naming of body parts, personal hygiene and disease prevention, appropriate social behavior, physical and sexual abuse prevention, recognition of good/bad touching, personal safety.
* Grades 3-5 (ages 8-11): human anatomy, understanding stages of physical development, relationships, recognition of risky situations, identification of good/bad touching, taking responsibility for personal choices, identifying dangerous and risk-taking behaviors, abstinence, refusal skills, assertiveness, prevention and control of disease including HIV/AIDS.
* Grades 6-8 (ages 11-14): abstinence, contraceptives, parenting and family life, sexually transmitted disease facts and prevention, social and emotional implications of sexual activity, recog-nizing risky situations in all personal relationships, dangers of date rape/rape, sexual harassment, understanding effects of sexuality on self-esteem.
* Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18): sexual behavior, recognizing risky situations and risky behaviors, and more in-depth coverage of all previous issues.
Source: “Making Healthy Choices,” AISD
This article appears in May 2 • 1997 and May 2 • 1997 (Cover).