Teenagers and Sex

Give Your Teen the Confidence to Make Good Decisions

Teenagers and sex...

A lot of parents say they find it hard to talk to their teenagers at all. But talking about sex?

Well, that's a whole new level of difficulty!

It's an emotional topic.

You will be affected by your own experiences, your own values and beliefs, and own your morals.

Here Are Some Points to Remember About Teenagers and Sex

• Talking about sex with your teen gives them the confidence to make good decisions for themselves.

• You don't need to sit your teen down for a full on lecture with a power point presentation and diagrams. Just answer their questions truthfully as they come up, make comments about situations in TV programs you are watching together, and so on.
• Your teen may be embarrassed to ask questions of you. Look for opportunities to lead the conversation and be approachable.
• Teenagers need support and guidance. Beware of getting into a battle along the lines of "kids of today have no morals". It's not helpful.
• Your teenager is growing up in a world with different ideas, attitudes and pressures. Make note of your own values and attitudes but don't expect your teen to agree with you.
• Put a focus on the importance of relationships, emotions and respect. Encourage your teen to be aware of other people's feelings, values and rights.

Teenagers and Sex: Do I Really Have to Talk About It?

Yes, you do. Here's why:

• Sex is all around us. It's used in advertising, in magazines, on the TV, on music videos, in song lyrics. We can't keep our kids in a box. We need to guide them in a supportive way as we do with anything important in their lives.
• If you aren't talking to your teenager about sex, then who is? It will be their friends and what ever they can work out from what they can see and hear around them. You can bet they'll have the wrong ideas and information.
• Think of your teen's sex education as being a normal part of their development. Make it as normal as learning about health and hygiene, learning to read and write, or how to drive a car.
• Teenagers often think they know everything there is to know. They can get out of their depth very quickly. Providing them with a solid education and helping them to develop their own sexual values is more likely to keep them out of trouble.
• Teenagers are going through puberty and their sexual awareness and interest develops rapidly at this time. It can be confronting for parents to be faced with this. Acknowledge that they are becoming sexual beings and guide them to make good and safe choices.

Here's a tip:

If your teenager will not talk to you about sex, or you find you just aren't able to talk about it, then please make sure your teenager has access to good quality, accurate information and/or someone trustworthy to talk to.

So while the topic of teenagers and sex may make you feel uncomfortable, you can see why it's important to get over your own misgivings and guide your teen as you do with everything else they encounter.

Teen Sex Education

You may feel very strongly about promoting total abstinence for your teenager.

You may be happy for them to explore their own sexuallity as they reach their late teens.

Either way, information will increase their confidence to make the best choices for themselves.

Read more here...

Talking to Teens

With our greater wisdom and experience it's easy to jump in and give advice or a lecture.

Communication between you and your teenager is of enormous importance. Take the time to get it right.

Read more here...