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Tips to Talk to Your Child About Contraception and Sexuality
You may feel anxious, uncomfortable or uncertain about talking to your kids about contraception and sexuality. Lots of parents do. Here are some helpful tips:
- Start early; kids are hearing about contraception and sexuality at increasingly early ages, often before they're ready to understand it.
- Initiate conversations. Although you want your child to feel comfortable about coming to you with questions or concerns, this doesn't always happen. TV and other media are great tools for you to bring up a sexually related topic. Depending on your child's age, it's always best to use simple, short words, and straightforward answers.
- Create an open environment; make sure you create the kind of atmosphere in which your children can ask any questions freely and without fear of repercussions.
- Communicate your values; you have the opportunity, as a parent, to pass on your sense of values before your kids hear about sex from somewhere else.
- Listen; find time to give your kids your undivided attention. Listening carefully helps parents understand what their children want to know as well as what they already understand.
- Try to be honest; whatever their age, your children deserve honest answers and explanations. If you don't, they may fill in the blanks themselves, which could be frightening.
- Be patient; this way you allow your kids to talk at their own pace and show them that they are worthy of your time.
- Look for teachable moments; television specials, a pregnant woman, a display of condoms or sanitary products. These are all good opportunities to talk about contraception or sexually related issues.
- Talk about it again and again; many kids can only take in a certain amount of information at one time so not only allow them to ask questions over and over, but initiate the discussion your self often.
Last Modified: September 5, 2006
