Rutgers and De Kindertelefoon distributed an online questionnaire among all De Kindertelefoon volunteers.

A total of 49 volunteers completed the questionnaire. The theme ‘crushes and dating’ clearly ranks first. This theme appears in the top three of no fewer than eight out of ten respondents (81%). In second place is the theme ‘having sex/fucking’, which half (50%) of the respondents placed in their top three.

In joint third place are ‘other sexual acts, such as fingering and blow jobs’, ‘masturbation’ and ‘(development of) the body’, each of which was placed in the top three by more than a third of the respondents (31%). These are followed by the themes ‘kissing’ (27%), ‘menstruation’ (25%) and ‘homosexuality’ (13%). One in ten (10%) volunteers place questions about ‘unwanted intimacy/sexual assault/rape’ in their top three.

Curious

From Monday 18 through 22 March 2019, many primary schools will take part in the Week of Spring Fever.

The theme of this 14th edition is: I really want to know. Have you told me everything yet?! Elsbeth Reitzema of Rutgers recognizes the findings of the research: “Children are extremely curious and have many questions about relationships and sexuality. They want to know all sorts of things and to be sure that adults also tell them everything. That is why it is so important for children to receive lessons on this at primary school and for parents to discuss it at home.”

Merel Luichies of De Kindertelefoon agrees: "Love, relationships and sexuality have been among our top three most discussed topics for years, alongside subjects such as bullying, home & family and emotional problems."

Week of Spring Fever

Rutgers, a knowledge centre for sexuality, organizes the project week in collaboration with the municipal health services (GGDs). The project week is intended as a starting point or a regular time during the year for teaching lessons about resilience, relationships and sexuality. Since 2012, primary schools have been required to pay attention to this, but they are free to decide how to do so. Because attention is paid to it at school, it is easier for parents/carers to continue discussing it at home.

Download the full research report and summary here: