Parents at a private school in New York City are up in arms after children aged seven were shown educational videos that appear to include information about masturbation.
Pupils in first grade - the US equivalent to Year 2 - at the elite Dalton School reportedly watched clips from the sex-ed animated series AMAZE during a lesson.
In one of the videos, a cartoon boy asks about erections and a little girl character talks about touching herself in the bath before an adult answers their questions.
Teachers at the school have also come under fire for their approach to teaching children about consent.
Students have been told not to let their parents and grandparents touch them without asking for permission first, according to the New York Post.
Parents at the $55,210 (£38,907)-per-year school complained last autumn after catching wind of the classes.
One mum told the Post: "I’m paying $50,000 to these a–holes to tell my kid not to let her grandfather hug her when he sees her?”
Another mum said parents were "furious" and "horrified to learn this was shown to our first grade six-and-seven-year-olds without our knowledge or consent".
Teachers have said that the word "masturbation" is not explicitly used in the videos and that the classes are intended to help pupils learn about their body and gender.
The series features a cartoon boy who asks: "Hey, how come sometimes my penis gets big sometimes and points in the air?”
When an adult character explains what an erection is, the boy nods and says: “Sometimes I touch my penis because it feels good.”
A little girl character then says: "Sometimes, when I’m in my bath or when Mum puts me to bed, I like to touch my vulva too.”
A school spokesperson said: “ As part of Dalton’s comprehensive Health curriculum for students, a lesson on Gender & Bodies included two evidence-based and age-appropriate videos approved for students four years and older.
"These videos align with nationally recognised methodologies and standards.
"We consistently review our Health curriculum, making sure that the content is developmentally appropriate and, if necessary, we adapt our curriculum accordingly.
"We will continue to listen carefully to parent feedback, respond thoughtfully to community concerns, and develop lessons that are in the best interest of our students, respect our community’s values, and correspond with best practices.”
