Your 8-10 year old son may feel some confusion when he learns that sperm are made in the testicles and then come out the end of the penis. There isn’t an obvious pathway from one place to the next.
You can use this illustration from my book I’m a Boy, My Changing Body, written for boys in this age group, to help him learn the pathway to the penis.
Illustration from I’m a Boy, My Changing Body
This is actually a very important concept for him to understand. Here are two key points.
- A tube takes the sperm from the testicles, located in the scrotum, through the abdominal wall and into the space in the pelvis called the pelvic cavity. They can find the pelvis by putting their hands on their hips.
- After the tube arrives in the pelvic cavity, it is able to attach to the beginning of the penis and release the sperm into the penis.
There are many questions that boys in this age group have about the changes that are happening in their reproductive system. Most boys are usually a little hesitant to ask questions. Showing your son this illustration and bringing up the topic might be met with some resistance, but trust me, he wants to know the information.
I recommend that you keep these topics to 5-7 minutes. This will be best for him and for you!
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