Pre-service early childhood teachers’ perceptions about sexuality education and behavioural intentions towards children’s curiosity about sexuality

ABSTRACT

Research Findings

This study surveyed 216 pre-service early childhood teachers in Hong Kong to examine their levels of confidence in teaching different topics of sexuality. It also sought to explore the relationships of their different perceptions about sexuality education to their behavioural intentions towards children’s curiosity. Results showed that the participants reported the highest level of confidence in teaching about self-protection and the lowest level of confidence in teaching about body parts of the two sexes and origin of life. Surprisingly, there was no significant relationship between overall confidence and behavioural intentions. Perceived benefits of sexuality education and embarrassment of talking about sexuality were associated with the avoidance intention, but only the former was associated with the approach intention.

Practice or Policy

Our findings suggest that teacher educators should seek ways to help pre-service teachers realise the benefits of sexuality education and reduce their discomfort of talking openly about sexuality.

KEYWORDS:

• Pre-service teachers
• teacher attitudes
• sexuality education
• early childhood education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.