Sex education is something many parents shy away from — the birds and the bees, or simply put, “the talk,” is a source of dread. There’s no right time to give children a run-down on sexual education, but you do want to make sure you, as a caregiver, are prepared to answer any curiosities young ones may have. Author and cartoonist Fiona Katauskas is solving that dilemma with her book-turned-television series, The Amazing True Story of How Babies Are Made.
The book was a breakout hit that changed sex education in several countries and now, in a partnership with Australian TV production company CJZ, is being released as a 21-minute animation in the United States.
“This animation is something they can sit down and watch together…and still be part of the sharing of information,” Katauskas tells Parentology of an opportunity for parents and kids to open discussions. “It takes away a bit of the awkwardness that may come from having read it aloud.”
How It Tells “The Story”
The Amazing True Story of How Babies Are Made keeps lessons frank and fun for young ones. There’s no shying away in any of it. The three animated episodes are broken over three topics: differences between girls and boys, conception and development. Jokes and tunes are sprinkled throughout, keeping the young audience engaged – a common problem in traditional sex-ed curriculum.
“In a digital age, where children are used to seeing things on a screen…it’s something that can add that extra visual element and add music as well,” Katauskas says.
The series also covers assisted conception, something traditional sex education often lacks. In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is one of many assisted conception treatments on the rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infertility affects about one in seven Americans. Katauskas wanted to reflect that in her work.
“I wanted babies that were born in assisted conception or mixed families to watch this and say, ‘Oh, I’m just like anyone else’…It was important to have that inclusivity,” Katauskas says. “It’s the technology, but it’s also the feeling that whether it’s the old-fashioned way or the newer ways, we’re all miracles in our own way.”
How to Watch
Sex education doesn’t have to be limited to mandatory school curriculum. With the series (and the book) parents can tackle sex education at home and be ready for “the talk” at any point.
“My mission is to make sex education a joyous thing,” Katauskas says. “How babies are made is a fascinating and interesting topic. For parents to be able to share this because this is a story of their own children.”
Katauskas continues, “This is saying, ‘So this is how you were made. It’s a wonderful and joyous thing and behind that; it’s science. If kids can be amused by it and engaged, that’s a really great way to learn.”
The Amazing True Story of How Babies Are Made is available for purchase now. The three, seven-minute episodes can be purchased directly on amazingbabies.tv/usa and on iTunes and Amazon. The full family resource kit includes the series, a visual glossary of keywords with interactive audio, and a multiple-choice quiz to help gauge kids’ understanding.
The animated series is $8.99, and the family resource kit is $29.99.
Check out the trailer for the series down below: