Abstract
Early childhood educators are uniquely qualified to provide positive, supportive, age-appropriate sexuality education for the youngest of our children. However, they are often lacking in the knowledge, attitudes, and specific skills required. A mentoring program at The Park School in Brooklandville, Maryland, funded by the school's summer Faculty and Curricular Advancement Program (FACA), was developed to train and enable K-4, K-5, and first-grade teachers to provide health and human sexuality education. Part of a larger initiative dedicated to revising the school's early childhood science curriculum, the project was devised around developmentally-based learning objectives suggested by early childhood science, health, and sexuality experts. The faculty preparation component, designed and implemented by a certified sexuality and family life educator, includes reading, lecture, discussion, personal reflection, skill practice, and ongoing mentoring throughout the school year. Teachers involved report increased comfort levels with the content material, highly successful and productive classroom interactions, consistent administrative support, positive parent reaction, and heightened interest in health and human sexuality education among teachers in the upper elementary grades.