By Choi Tuck Wo

AT first glance, the colourful comic book looks like any other you can buy from bookstores in London.

But flip open Let's Grow with Nisha and Joe and you'll find that the story of two kids and their dog isn't your run-of-the-mill kid stuff.

While the 12-page booklet focuses primarily on the concept of growth and physical change, it also contains information that has been accused of being "far too explicit" for young children.

One quiz that evoked the strongest protests asks kids to draw a line from the words indicating the genitals to the appropriate body parts of a picture of a naked girl and boy.

It is true that a recent study found that the secret to effectively teaching children about sex was to repeatedly discuss the topic in different ways. This would make the kids feel more comfortable talking about sex with their parents as well as become more open about the subject.

But promoting what many see as a sensitive subject to six-year-olds may do more harm than good. In other words, children should not be rushed into adulthood.

The saying "don't judge a book by its cover" looms menacingly, even as the debate rages over the newly-launched sex educational booklet for six to seven-year-olds.

As it is, the prospect of the FPA (Family Planning Association) promoting 50,000 copies to schools has drawn a chorus of protests from parents and family groups alike.

People have criticised the 78-year-old sexual health charity, one of Britain?s most controversial organisations, for trying to rob children of their innocence through the booklet.

FPA chief executive Julie Bentley explained that the booklet was designed to help teachers and parents/carers talk with children about growing up in a fun and relaxed way.

She said it would help children understand the differences between girls' and boys' bodies, as they wanted to be able to talk about their bodies, feelings and relationships.

"It is important for them to learn the basic information before their bodies start to change," she added.

Bentley stressed that talking about body parts was often easier for children when they were younger as they were less self-conscious and less sensitive about their bodies.

But she also struck a nerve with her contention that "sex and relationships education at this age is exactly the same as teaching children ABC."

While learning about relationships with family and friends is important, young children lack the emotional development to cope with the complexities of sex education.

Early childhood should be about innocence, friendship and play, as they will learn about the realities of growing up soon enough.

As you can imagine, the thought of children coming home from school and trying to practise what they've learnt isn't exactly comforting.

Amidst the debate about sex education for young children, it is equally crucial to teach them good values and morals to face the challenges when they grow up.