Age 10 - 13

This is a critical period, especially for girls touching puberty. Explain everything about menstruation to your daughter - from what causes the bleeding every month to the hygiene she needs to maintain.

Don't use a negative approach towards periods like calling it a 'curse of life'. This is also the time to tell girls and boys about sex and pregnancy. Use a scientific approach - you can start by showing them some animal mating documentaries from Discovery Channel and broach the subject.

Don't feel guilty or shy while talking about sex, or else even children will acquire your attitude and won't be open about sex in their lives. Tell children that they don't need to be scared, but warn them in clear words not to 'try out' things.

Age 14 - 16

It is very important to let children know about contraception at this age. No matter how much you "trust" your children, make sure they know about sex and contraception. You can start by telling them about status of abandoned unwed mothers or orphans in India.

Girls as well as boys this age should know about condoms and pills as basic contraception methods. Basic information about abortion can be given easily - just point out at an ad in newspapers or local trains/busses about abortion centres and start a topic.

Another important topic is masturbation - most children must have discovered by this age that touching their genitals in a certain way feels pleasant. If you find them masturbating, tell them it is perfectly ok to be aroused and masturbate to release sexual energy.

For boys, the 'night-fall' or ejaculation during sleep sometimes becomes cause of shame. Let them know it is normal, but they need to wash their underclothes in the morning for hygiene reasons. Encourage them to talk about misconceptions regarding masturbation.