Sex is a tough subject to approach with your children, no doubt. You stutter, they squirm. But if parents don’t present the truth about sex and solid family values, plenty of sexually harmful messages are waiting in the shadows, classrooms and school halls.
Recent research in Pediatrics indicates that teen sexual activity is beginning before parents ever approach the subject – not good!
Research Findings:
- Less than one-third of parents had ever talked to their children about reasons for not having sex.
- By the time teens were engaging in genital touching with a partner, only 17% of parents had talked to their girls and 6% to their boys about how to refuse unwanted sexual advances.
- Parents had not yet discussed refusal skills and the importance of not pressuring a partner into sex in about 25% of girls and 40% of boys by the time that they had engaged in sexual intercourse.
The Talk:
Be open, vulnerable, get involved and be real. Don’t be afraid to laugh and admit it’s awkward. This is one of the most important conversations you’ll ever have with your child.
Good resources for quick information:
- Dear Parents – Let’s Talk About Doing
- Before The Talk: Dealing with Our Past
- Talking to Pre-Teen or Teen About Waiting
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
- Sex is never “safe,” even with a condom or the pill
- The Medical Institute- information on sexually transmitted diseases
- The Medical Institute FAQ
- STD Wizard can calculate risks of sexual behaviors (a real eye-opener for teens)
- Trouble with pornography? Visit Pure Intimacy
- Tough questions, good answers
- Teen Sexual Behavior Quick Facts
- Oral Sex Quick Facts
Print
