Virginia's standards for family life education provide a comprehensive, sequential K-12 curriculum. They include age-appropriate instruction in family living and community relationships, abstinence education, the value of postponing sexual activity, the benefits of adoption as a positive choice in the event of an unwanted pregnancy, human sexuality and human reproduction. Instruction is designed to promote parental involvement, foster positive self concepts and provide mechanisms for coping with peer pressure and the stresses of modern living according to the students' developmental stages and abilities. Parents have the right to review the complete family life curricula, including all supplemental materials used in any family life education program.
McHarg uses classroom morning meetings to teach, discuss, and explore self-awareness, self management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness. It is also used to help create and strengthen and grow the classroom community.
Zone Regulation- McHarg uses the zones of regulation to help students determine and express how they are feeling. The zones are separated into four zones including: Yellow (excited), Green (happy), Blue (sad), and Red (anger).
Hugs and Kisses is a traveling theatrical production which educates elementary school children about how to keep safe from, or report, sexual abuse.
Classroom teachers, Speciality Teachers (PE, ART, Music, Technology, Guidance) all address teaching this curriculum together throughout the year.
Your kids will eventually have questions about this topic, so it is important to be prepared when they come to you for answers.
Consider reading the book It's Not the Stork! by Robie H. Harris to see an age appropriate option for talking about this tough topic at home. While you may not be ready to discuss all the content in this book with your child, this book can give you ideas on how to approach the topics you are ready to discuss.
Ruby Studio's The Safety Show is especially geared towards preschool and kindergarten students and covers a variety of safety topics including safe touch.
(VA Departments of Education Standard below)
-Encourage your child to use correct terminology when talking about body parts and functions.
Scientific terms such as urinate, bowel movement, penis, vulva, and breast will be introduced as they occur in daily activities and are not taught directly. Parents are encouraged to reinforce correct terminology at home.
-Parents are encouraged to assist with this objective during the course of normal family activities.