Annotation: Children up to 10 years of age need to understand AIDS in a productive and useful manner.
Abstract: It is helpful for children to know about AIDS because of the natural curiosity, anxiety, and fears they may have, and the fact that they may come in contact with someone with AIDS. It is important that a child have a basic knowledge of human sexuality to be able to understand some of the answers to questions about AIDS. Some questions children may have about AIDS are how people get the disease, what IV drugs are, what "gay" means, and whether or not children get AIDS. For children who have parents, family, or friends at risk, it is suggested that answers to questions be straightforward and carefully worded. For early elementary grades, AIDS education should be designed to allay excessive fears of the epidemic and of becoming infected. Appendix.