Talking to Your Teen About Sex

By the time your child reaches the teen years, they are ready to discuss the topics of sexuality on an honest and open level. Sexuality, afterall, is a normal process of life and avoiding the topic with your child or acting coy in any way about the subject, only gives your child the wrong message. They can end up feeling that sex is "dirty" or something that they will need to "sneak around the corner" to learn more about on their own because mom or dad gets too embarrassed to handle any questions.

Being frank and open in all your discussions of sexuality with either your daughter or your son will give them a healthy outlook on the subject as well as give them the message that they can come to you with any question or problem without feeling afraid or embarrassed. Being a responsible parent and giving them the honest truth will help your child lead a safer love life when they are ready to take the next step in what is the most natural part of life there is.

Discuss the interaction of feelings between the sexes and the physical union that results. Discuss the problems of having sex too soon and the potential for sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs). Don't talk down to you child. Invite their interaction in an active discussion so that you get to know what they are thinking, and helping them with any questions they may have on the subject, or correcting any misconceptions they may have. Ask them what they think about pre-marital sex, childbirth in the teen years, STDs, not using protection during sex, and how diseases such as AIDS can be avoided. Get your kids involved in the discussion. Get them thinking with a lively one-on-one discussion of these major topics.

Your child may hold different opinions than you do. Don't condemn them for what they believe. You can help them more by allowing them to vent their thoughts and, in the process, correct any of their misconceptions. How responsibly you handle the situation will teach your teen responsibility in handling themselvees in the arms of love later on - honestly, intelligently, and responsibly. It will be the greatest gift you can give them - a loving guidance that will stay with them forever.