Almost 10 year old daughter

May be worth asking what prompted the question - it could be simpler than you think. Definitely talk about mutual consent and self worth, be honest, talk abou the biology and try not to euphemise

Yeah, I don't want to "over inform" her.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Exactly - my daughter is 14 and sometimes what I think she asks or wants to know isn't what she's talking about. Also tell her whatever you tell her is between the two of you and not to be discussed with her friends, saves you getting a phone call from her friend's parents

My eight year old daughter asked my mom if she and my dad "did" sex. That's how I knew it was time for the talk. My parents are in their 70's.

My daughter will be 11 next month. You probably have more complicated and detailed answers in your head to give her than she is really seeking. Take a long drive for icecream and just talk. Let her lead the discussion and keep your answers truthful but you don't need to have full disclosure necessarily unless she is really pressing you for facts. Keep the convo open, honest, and easy. You'll both do fine, promise.

A side note, my oldest son recently thanked me for being open with him and using correct anatomy terms when we talk after he went through the sexuality unit in his high school Health class. Apparently too many of the kids had "cookies" or "wee wee's" and were clueless! LOL (parenthood=delayed gratification

Have your wife discuss this with her. If that is not an option, just be honest with her. Give her the basics now then give her more information as she gets older. With a daughter, it is really better coming from her mother but if she is not available or willing to discuss this with her at the moment, then honesty is the best option. After all, it is all really just a body function... a private one but a body function none-the-less. Naturally, you will want to address your family's moral stand on the proper management of this issues.

My son just turned 10 last month, and we just had the conversation a couple of months ago. I'd been dancing around the topic with him for a while already. Mostly asking questions to see what he knew first.

It turned out to be not as awkward as I'd thought. And a lot more moments of me stifling giggles at the things he believed/assumed. With him, I explained it more on a semi-scientific level. The particular conversation that led to the full blown Talk came from a video they watched at school about animal reproduction. (Where he learned that babies "come out of their moms' butts".) After the slightly sick look when I told him where they really came from and his incredulous response "They come out of a girl's weiner???" We talked about genitals and how boys and girls were different. He already sort of knew this. We have dogs of both sexes, and we talked about that because It seemed easier for him to understand.

Then we moved to the "how" and this was actually easier than I thought...he's already been getting erections, and had some idea that these were involved in the mysterious act. I kept it simple. He's comfortable and articulate enough to ask for clarification on things he is interested in...so I gave basic info and let his questions guide us.

What surprised me was the questions he actually had...he wasn't disgusted like a lot of kids seem to be. After the mechanics were explained, he had wanted to know about how more babies can be made when they've already "cracked the egg" they live in in mom's tummy. He also was under the impression that every time people had sex, a baby was created. (Thank GOD that one isn't true!) He asked why people do it more often if they're not making babies, and I told him it feels good and can be fun.

And like the "teachable moments" mom I am, I brought it back full circle. The film they watched in school was about animals and insects...and I told him that sex is for people (and animals and amoebas and bugs) who are sexually mature. And that we aren't supposed to have sex until we are sexually mature.

I realize we're not done with the sex talks. I realize that telling him this will not stop him from having sex. I didn't go into condoms or periods or anything like that. He's ten. When the time comes that he's getting to spend time alone with girls, I'm sure there will be more questions. But I feel like this was a good start and a good opening for more conversation when it's age/maturity appropriate.

Just tell her. Give her the basics. Better she get it from you than from someone else....

Oh I WANT to tell her. Just need some tips on how to approach it.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Be open, honest and explain about your feelings about talking to her. Most important be up front about how good it can be and the consequences.

Think of it this way, she was open enough to come to YOU (that took some nerve). Something tells me you have a very special young lady if she has that much trust in you :-)

Reason #2 I'm glad that I have three boys.

^ This, but I have two boys.

I agree with tell her. I have twins who are10 and they asked me how babies were made in the toilet at the motorway services, I swear the whole place went quiet. I started to bumble on about daddy's seed meeting mummy's seed when Lydia said matter of factly "oh do you mean sex", Piers nearly fell off the toilet laughing and I figured out they knew it all anyway. Apparently they talk about it at school. I was hoping that I would be the one to tell them. I live in the Uk and work as a midwife, my town has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in the country i don't want that to happen to my kids so I am totally honest with them. I also worked in an STI clinic for a while so condoms will be discussed at a later date too.

Be very honest and use all of the scientific terms. I'm surprised you haven't taught her before 10.

Then give her the "it's YOUR body and YOU decide what to do with it" speech. That one is even more important.

I will talk about anything with my daughter because I don't ever want her to feel like she can't come to me FIRST. I would never give her false information just to scare her away from sex.