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CaringSG Webinar Summary: Empowering Families Through Sexuality Education

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September 1, 2025 by A O Our Blog

 

Teaching children about sexuality and healthy relationships is never an easy task, and for parents of children with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the challenges can feel even more overwhelming. To support caregivers on this journey, CaringSG recently hosted a webinar featuring expert insights and heartfelt sharing from both a professional and a parent, offering practical guidance, reassurance, and hope.

Understanding the Challenges

At the start of the session, participants were invited to reflect on their own experiences. An overwhelming 25 out of 29 caregivers shared that they found teaching sexuality education difficult.

Caregiver Panelist Fion Sung, mother of a 16-year-old non-verbal son with classic autism, spoke candidly about her struggles. She described how, as a mother, her lack of experience with male development left her uncertain and anxious when her son entered adolescence. Her story resonated deeply with participants, reminding everyone that these challenges are not faced alone.

On the professional front, Dr Lohsnah Jeevanandam, a clinical psychologist and lecturer at NUS, shared how her time working with students and adults with intellectual disabilities at MINDS revealed a troubling pattern: many were unable to respond when inappropriately touched, leaving them scared and vulnerable. This spurred her passion for sexuality education, not only to prevent harm but also to help individuals build meaningful, healthy relationships in the future.

Caregiver panelist Fion Sung
Dr Lohsnah Jeevanandam

Building Blocks of Healthy and Safe Relationships

Dr Lohsnah introduced the framework of Healthy and Safe Relationships (HSR), highlighting three key pillars:

👉 Self-esteem – helping children develop a positive self-concept to reduce vulnerability to exploitation.

👉 Communication skills – empowering them to express themselves and seek help when needed.

👉 Personal safety – teaching them to recognise private parts, set boundaries, and respond assertively to inappropriate behaviour.

She reminded caregivers that sexuality is not just about sex. It also encompasses body awareness, emotional health, decision-making, and the ability to form safe and meaningful connections.

Parent–Child Collaboration

Both panelists stressed that sexuality education must be a partnership between parents and schools.

Fion shared how she creates space for open communication with her son, even though he is non-verbal, through patience, observation, and consistent guidance. Dr Lohsnah encouraged parents to react calmly and without judgment when children raise questions about sexuality, fostering trust and a safe environment for learning.

The group also discussed when to begin. Most participants agreed that teaching should start before age 12, with age-appropriate content introduced gradually.

Age-Appropriate Guidance

Dr Lohsnah provided clear recommendations on how to teach children progressively:

👉 Early years – Teach about private parts and safety, using proper anatomical terms.

👉 Pre-adolescence – Reinforce personal boundaries and safety rules (stop, walk away, tell someone).

👉 Adolescence – Address topics such as masturbation, privacy, and social relationships when behaviours begin to emerge.

She advised that fathers guide sons and female relatives guide daughters, and emphasized that parents should share both dos and don’ts about private parts.

Fion raised the complexity of teaching trust to children with cognitive challenges, a concern that Dr Lohsnah acknowledged as a difficult but essential part of the journey.

Addressing Masturbation and Privacy

The webinar also touched on sensitive topics like masturbation. Fion bravely shared her experience guiding her child to find private spaces. Dr Lohsnah reassured caregivers that masturbation is a natural and healthy behaviour when done privately. Rather than focusing on stopping it, parents should aim to manage it respectfully, balancing cultural values with practical realities.

Safety First: Protocols and Real-Life Lessons

To equip children with simple, memorable tools, Dr Lohsnah recommended a three-step safety protocol:

1. Stop it

2.Walk away

3.Tell someone you trust

She emphasized empowering children to take action while ensuring they know it is never their fault if something happens.

Fion’s story highlighted both the challenges in investigating cases and the urgent need for clear, trusted channels of communication between families, schools, and healthcare providers.

Community Reflections

The session closed with a Q&A, where participants voiced concerns about masturbation, social interactions, and when to seek professional help.

Feedback from attendees underscored the impact of the discussion:

💬 “Hearing the mother’s experiences were surreal. So relatable.”

💬 “Dr Lohsnah’s clear and structured explanation made the session easy to follow and very insightful.”

💬 “Fion’s courage in sharing her story gave so much depth and meaning. It reminded me that we are not alone.”

💬 “This journey is long and tough, but we are in a kampong. Everything will get better with time.”

Moving Forward Together

Sexuality education can feel daunting, but as this webinar showed, it is also a pathway to empowerment, safety, and healthier relationships. By breaking the stigma, having open conversations, and walking alongside one another as caregivers, educators, and professionals, we can ensure our children—especially those with special needs—are not left vulnerable, but equipped to live safe, confident, and fulfilling lives.

At CaringSG, we remain committed to creating safe spaces for such important conversations, where knowledge meets lived experience, and where no caregiver ever feels alone.

👉 Stay tuned for more webinars and resources from CaringSG to support you on your caregiving journey.

Missed the webinar? Login here and watch the recording!

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