When your parents told you about sex (if they did), was it all at once? A big, overwhelming “The Talk” that left you feeling like a deer in headlights—overwhelmed, and unable to absorb everything they’d said?

Give credit where due: Having one big Talk is much better than saying nothing. (And if your parents talked to you at all about sex, they likely did more than their parents did.) But it’s more effective to provide information in small bites. A friend of mine calls this “the drip method.” She uses it so her daughter, now 9, can learn about sex gradually and more meaningfully over time.

Incremental learning works best for most things. We don’t teach math or reading or science all in one day; we teach small pieces over time, letting each soak in. Sexuality is every bit as complicated. So start early and let the knowledge drip slowly into your child’s mind so he can absorb it.