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Days ago, I was watching France 24 and I followed this amusing reportage…

What does being in love mean?

How do you kiss someone on the lips?

Why do you get spotty at puberty?

How babies are made?

All your children questions are answered in an exhibition full of humor. La Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in Paris has proposed this exhibition that already started on the 16^th of October 2007 and will last until the 8^th of January 2009 (14 months!). Combining humor, love, pedagogy and scientific vulgarity, the exhibition is designed for the 9 – 14 years old teenagers.

It is an event for youngsters to enjoy sexuality with the family, a school group or friends.

It is not only through words, but also through animated personalities who guide children: Titeuf & Nadia, and Zep drawings. Children are witnessing their puberty and growth by posters, puppets and movies.

An exhibition focusing on the questions that youngsters ask about love and sex.

Everything they want to know is explained honestly, clearly and humorously.

Popular comic book characters “Titeuf and Nadia” accompany visitors as they explore intimate topics in a series of amusing and light-hearted situations.

The exhibition was the fruit of 22 months of work, and it is an investment of 1,2 million euros, which is, sometimes, a difficult collaboration between artists and scientists.

Sex – what’s the big deal? In a funny, offbeat, sex takes an in-depth scientific look at the subject while promoting essential values such as mutual respect and consent.

A boy was asked about the exhibition and he said that now he knew that smoking is affecting ovulation and getting pregnant…

Other group of boys were in a competition to get the biggest number of “ova”.

Following the success of the “Crad’expo” that tackled topics like kaka, pipi and sneezing, experts realized that they could speak to children about embarrassing subjects while adding humor, burlesque and a touch of science.

What I have seen was a room called “Titeuf’s room” where the porch is in the form of a heart, inside a lady was showing a big heart like a teddy bear. It is a lovometer. The big heart must be squeezed voluptuously and you have to increase the pressure slowly and for a long time. Then the lovometer starts singing!

Once your love intensity is measured, you need the answer of the first question: what does being in love mean? And here the exhibition answers humorously all your questions, how to seduce girls and to declare their flame through the “declarations’ machine” where you get a printed personalized message on demand.

Boys were laughing squeezing the heart… you can see them curious and embarrassed a little when adults were passing.

Then comes “Nadia’s room” and you get there through the love tunnel, then you fall in front of Nadia’s bed having the form of a heart. You lay on the bed and watch a movie on the ceilings… lots of love stories… and without nudity… watching the movie, they ask the following question: how to kiss? Two face-to-face heads and a French kiss could be mimed.

There was three 9 to 12 years old boys that were laughing looking at the two puppet heads kissing…

Then there was the “bathroom”, where you can watch all physical changes related to puberty. They are placed with humor and sometimes with exaggeration… you can watch puppets with acne, body hair appearing and odors due to hormones.

Also there is the most interesting place: the “adults’ corner” where parents are not allowed to get in… boys can watch fake penis that they can move until an erection, even they can have ejaculation with foam. Girls are concerned with ovaries, first period…. They can watch pads and tampons.

Then comes the “secret garden” where they discover lovemaking. Zep drawings answer this sensitive question without vulgarity.

Then comes the “class room” where it is explained how babies are conceived. From the sperms’ rally until the fetus formation.

Finally comes the “street” where Titeuf climbs the girls’ tree… and from the tree branches are hanged some screens broadcasting cartoons on pedophilia, incest and internet hazards.

I think that only one day spent in such an exhibition worth a whole course on sexual education…. Especially it answers all children’s curiosity and imagination, not just by teaching but also by the usage of all their senses.

For those who are lucky to live in France and want to attend the exhibition:

From Tuesday to Saturday from 10 to 19 O’clock
Sunday from 10 to 19 O’clock.
Fees: 9 euros and 7 euros for (under 25 years old and for a group of families)

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