Sex toys SHOULD be sold in Boots - and in supermarkets!': FEMAIL sexpert Tracey Cox Couples says couples using them have better sex... and more clued-up children

There's been some press this week about 'horrified and disgusted' mothers planning to boycott Boots because they are selling sex toys that children may see, apparently scarring them for life. As a sex educator, I find this highly unlikely. In fact, having carefully chosen sex toys on sale in pharmacies and supermarkets might well be a good thing. First up, readily available sex toys usually means happier parents, which means happier children. Couples who use sex toys have better sex lives, and couples with good sex lives stay together longer and have healthier, happier relationships. Since this is all part of a family's general well-being, why on earth shouldn't places like pharmacies sell tasteful and discreetly packaged sex toys (and please note the emphasis on 'tasteful' and 'discreet')? As for the argument that having sex products on display takes away the parent's choice to talk about sex: most of the products sold are (deliberately) unspecific about their function. Children (and some adults) wouldn't be aware what they are used for even if they did pick them up. And if they are aware of their function, perhaps this is the perfect chance to start talking honestly and openly with your children or teenagers about sex? The choice of when to talk to your child about sex is already taken away. Whether we like it or not, we live in a sexualised society - children are exposed to sexual messages everywhere from a very young age. I am totally in favour of doing everything we can to protect children from inappropriate sexual messages or age inappropriate sexual messages. But this - for once - is a positive sex message. 'Couples who use sex toys have better sex lives, and couples with good sex lives stay together longer and have healthier, happier relationships' 'Couples who use sex toys have better sex lives, and couples with good sex lives stay together longer and have healthier, happier relationships' We're talking about relatively innocuous products that are designed to help couples enhance their sex well-being. What's to be ashamed of? What this highlights to me is that a lot of parents are still terrified to talk to their children about sex. It's crucial for parents to be able to communicate with their children about sex. Perhaps being forced to by a child's inquisitiveness in a shop might be the catalyst for positive change Never has there been more need for effective sex education - both for children and parents who often don't know how to handle necessary conversations. It's crucial for parents to be able to communicate with their children about sex. Perhaps being forced to by a child's inquisitiveness in a shop might be the catalyst for positive change. A lot of parents worry talking about sex will make their teens want to run off and do it. In fact, quite the opposite happens. If children are given good, sensible, practical, age-appropriate information about sex, the less curious they are about it and the longer they wait to have sex. Parents are still terrified of talking to their children about sex - but it's crucial for these channels of communication to be open if young people are to have healthy attitudes towards sex Parents are still terrified of talking to their children about sex - but it's crucial for these channels of communication to be open if young people are to have healthy attitudes towards sex Sex toys are a normal part of every day life now for lots of couples. They don't want to have to go into a specialist shop to buy them. They want convenience. Yes they're available online but lots of people like to be able to see and touch a product before buying it. Sex toys are a normal part of every day life now for lots of couples. They don't want to have to go into a specialist shop to buy them. They want convenience And buy they do. Sales of vibrators continue to outstrip those of washing machines and tumble dryers combined. More women in the UK own a vibrator than own a washing machine! It's a difficult line to tread but personally, I think the pharmacies and supermarkets who do stock sex toys have done a decent job of keeping up with the times and consumer needs but also maintaining a decent moral standard. Isn't it time we stopped being ashamed of sex and became mature enough to be able to deal with seeing those products on sale - and having a conversation with a curious child?