(a) The possible reasons that are behind the feeling of embarrassment amongst some parents who could not discuss freely about reproduction and sexuality with their children are:
(i) Some parents feel they do not have enough reliable source of accurate information.
(ii) Some parents believe that talking about sex will lead the adolescent child to experiment. In fact, research shows that teens who have talked with their parents about sex are more likely to postpone sex and use birth control measures when they do begin.
(iii) Sometimes the society is also responsible as it has set several barriers between parents and child which do not allow them to talk regarding reproduction and sexuality.
(iv) Parents still living with orthodox mindsets find hard to initiate such talks with their children.
(v) Parents are uncomfortable saying sexual words and phrases out loud.
(b) The parents can explain the process of reproduction and sexuality by taking the example of mango tree. Mango tree can be seen easily in our localities. It bears both male and female flowers. The parents can help the child in distinguishing male part from female part in a flower. Further, they can explain the child about the reproductive phenomena in the flower. In flower, the pollen grains from male are transferred to the stigma of female part. The pollen grain carry male gamete and the ovule present in female carry female gamete. When pollen grains are transferred to the stigma, male gamete fuses with the female gametes and brings about fertilisation. This fertilisation results in the formation of zygote which later develops into new plant. And hence, we may see a new mango plant growing near the existing tree.
In the same way, parents can explain their child about reproduction and sexuality by taking the example of dogs that can easily be seen in the localities. The male dog inseminate the female dog and transfers the male gamete (sperm) into the female dog by copulation. The two gametes i.e., sperm and egg fuse inside the body of the female dog. This is known as internal fertilisation or internal syngamy. It results in the formation of zygote, which develops inside the body of female dog into the embryo and then into a fully formed fetus. The time between conception till the birth of young one is called gestation period. In dogs, it is of 60-63 days. After the completion of gestation period, female dog gives birth to the young ones, i.e., puppies.
