Talking to Your Kids About HIV/AIDS
The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies have set forth guidelines to help parents talk to their children about HIV/AIDS. First, think about the information you want to get across to your child. Age, previous knowledge and influences, and religious values should be taken into consideration. You may not talk to same way to a 13 year old as you may an 18 year old. Gather together information about HIV and AIDS from doctors and read newsletters so all the information you tell them in 100% accurate. Create opportunities to bring up the topic. Often times the news, school assignments or even community events can help spark the conversation.
If you feel uncomfortable about talking to your child, be honest and admit it. Most likely, if you feel nervous, so does your child. By admitting you are nervous this can open the way for positive communication. The talk should be a conversation, not a lecture. If you have a critical tone, you may put your child on the defensive. You do not want a "wall" up between the two of you. When talking to your child about this, discuss the different types of peer pressure and where it can come from. Encourage your child to use their own sound judgment and to never do anything they know is wrong. Parents can make a huge impact on their children's life. Parents should never take for granted the power and positive influence they can have over their children.
Published by Erica Williams
A native of Detroit Michigan, is married and is goal oriented. I have extensive experience in writing web content articles for companies, and have various poetry published in anthology books. View profile
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3 Comments
Post a Commentit gives pride to us as chlidren if our parents talk to us about HIV/AIDS and other important issues
Encouraging a child to select this topic as the subject for a school paper is a good way for them to learn about it themselves. There are still so many myths out there and so much misinformation.
I'll agree it certainly is an important issue to discuss with our children. Too many parents leave the "educating" up to the schools etc.