Bodies, Babies and Bellybuttons by Lynnette Smith

Book Review

A short overview of this book

Bodies, Babies and Bellybuttons by Lynnette Smith is a generalist book that covers most of the topics pertaining to sex education.

This book covers a lot of the sexuality stuff that is relevant for younger children: diversity, being the boss of your body, private parts, keeping safe, looking after your body, sexual intercourse, conception, pregnancy and birth.

Ideal Age

Ideal for children aged 5 to 7 years.

Buy this book

✅ You can buy a copy of Bodies, Babies and Bellybuttons by Lynnette Smith from the Author.

Video Transcription

A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener

Hey there! Today, I want to share with you a really awesome book called Bodies, Babies and Belly Buttons by Lynette Smith. Now, let me tell you, this self-published gem from a UK-based sex educator is surprisingly good!

The title pretty much sums it up – it’s all about the important stuff you need to cover when it comes to bodies and babies, especially during the early years. You see, in those early years, sex education and teaching kids about protective behaviors go hand in hand. This book does a fantastic job of starting off by emphasizing that we’re all unique individuals and that nobody should ever hurt us. It even has words up top that you can read with your child.

At the bottom of each page, there are these cool blue boxes with notes that you can use to have conversations about what’s happening. It covers everything from the names of body parts to the concept of privacy. It asks kids if they know which parts of their bodies are private, and it even includes the mouth because, unfortunately, it’s a part that can be used for sexual abuse.

The book’s message is clear – there are special parts we keep private, and we shouldn’t touch other people’s private parts. It’s okay to touch our own private parts, but we should do it in private or when we’re alone. And we definitely shouldn’t show them to others or let anyone take photos.

As kids get a bit older, around five or six, they might start getting curious about what’s happening on the inside. The book has some neat diagrams that show what’s inside both boys and girls. It even talks about the anus and what it’s for.

Next, it covers the importance of taking care of our bodies and keeping them clean. Then it goes into more detail about the different parts of boys and girls. And yes, it does talk about sexual intercourse, which not all books do.

Now, here’s the thing. This book is designed for kids aged four to seven, and that can be a tricky age range. A four-year-old might be more interested in where babies come from, like inside the uterus or tummy, but they might not be quite ready to hear about sexual intercourse. On the other hand, seven-year-olds are usually ready for that conversation. So, if you’re not ready to discuss sex with your child, you can easily skip that page. Just flip past it and focus on other parts of the book.

The book also covers what happens after sex – how a baby starts growing and getting bigger. It even talks about vaginal and caesarean births. And it wraps up with a picture of the cutting of the umbilical cord, explaining what it is.

I just want to remind you that it’s natural for parents to feel a bit uncomfortable when it comes to talking about sex with their kids, especially in those early years. But the great thing about reading books with younger kids is that you have the power to skip over certain parts if you’re not ready. For example, if you’re not ready to dive into the details of sex, you can simply say, Hey, it takes a man and a woman to make a baby. Trust me, a four-year-old will be perfectly content with that explanation.

Overall, this book is fantastic. It covers almost everything you need to establish a solid foundation when it comes to bodies and babies during those early years. So, if you’re looking for a resource that’s informative, engaging, and age-appropriate, I highly recommend Bodies, Babies and Belly Buttons by Lynette Smith. Cheers!

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