How To Talk To Teens About Sex As Parents

By Lucia Weeks


Parents are the most important sex educators for their children. How to talk to teens about sex can be a difficult task and so some parents do not want to discuss sex issues. However, teenagers will learn things on sex somewhere else and parents will have little control over what and how they learn sex issues. So it is important that parents talk to teens on sexual matters, because it is the parent's responsibility.

Talking to teenagers on sex should not be a one-time event, but rather a progressive process. The sex conversation should be structured in such a way that it fits into everyday life. The conversations should be short, but done often. This would help remind teens why they have been taught about sex.

Trying to educate teenagers on sex without preparation would not be effective. This is because most of the teens would like to have answers to a lot of the things they heard from friends. A parent who does not prepare, may not have answers to the concerns these young ones may bring up. Parents can investigate the questions young people ask concerning sex, and also common misconceptions of teenagers about sex. A parent can have practise sessions with friends or a spouse before finally talking to the teen.

It is important to talk on subjects with your teen's one-on one. When is it appropriate to talk about sex? If you wait for the perfect moment, you might miss the best opportunity and your teen could be severely misinformed. Everyday moments such as riding in a car, putting away groceries, taking a walk or watching TV, sometimes offer the best opportunities to have a conversation. For instance, a TV program may raise an issue on responsible sexual behaviour and this can set the stage for a conversation.

Openness is very important when talking to teenagers. The parent has to explain all questions to the best of their ability. If for any reason the parent does not have immediate answers to teen's questions, attempts should be made to get the answers as soon as possible.

The information given to teens on sex has to be very accurate. When in doubt, it is important to explain to the teenagers. If the wrong information is given, they would get other contradictory information that would leave them even more confused. The parent should also explain the issues based on their own beliefs. Attempts should not be made to scare these young ones from sex as this would not work for long.

During conversations do not lecture but ask your teen questions and also welcome questions from your teen. Ask sex related topics or what he or she knows regaring sex, to make sure they have accurate information. Give your teen a chance to speak and ask questions. Let him or her know that they can talk to you concerning anything.

It is important to select an approach that would work when talking to teenagers about sex. The approach for girls has to be different from boys, and likewise for different age groups. A parent can also get materials and leave them in the room of the teens where they can easily see.




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