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How to Talk to Your Child About Sex Jennifer Mick

How to talk to your child about sex

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Page 1: How to talk to your child about sex

How to Talk to Your Child About Sex

Jennifer Mick

Page 2: How to talk to your child about sex

Why do Children Need to Know About Sex and Sexuality?

0Helps kids cope with their feelings and peer pressure0Helps them take charge of their lives and have loving

relationships in the future0Better to get factual information from parents at

home0Develops and early understanding and promotes a

healthy attitude of their own body

Page 3: How to talk to your child about sex

When’s the Best Time?

0When they ask (but don’t assume they will ask!)0Find teachable moments

0 Be aware of opportunities0Things on TV0Neighbor or friend might be pregnant0Things in the media that might make us think about our

bodies

Page 4: How to talk to your child about sex

Some Conversation Starters

0Do you know the names of all your body parts?0Do you know why girls look different than boys?0Your aunt is pregnant. Do you know what that means?

Page 5: How to talk to your child about sex

What should I tell them?

0 It’s better to be factual. Brief explanations about intercourse are appropriate for a 5 year old.

0Confuses a child if they are told magical stories about “storks, fairy godmothers, babies found on doorsteps, etc”

Page 6: How to talk to your child about sex

Age appropriate

0At ages 3-4 most kids will want to know things like – “how does the baby get out of the mommy?”

0Around 5 they will want to know “how the baby get’s in”0 It’s OK to say “I’m not sure about that! Why don’t we

look it up together later?” if you aren’t sure what to say or you’re caught off guard, or in the wrong environment.

Page 7: How to talk to your child about sex

What should I tell them?

0When deciding how much detail to give, rely on what you know about your child’s level of understanding.

0Age appropriate books are good for explaining the basics. Some have illustrations to help children understand.

0Be open and calm, how you express yourself nonverbally is important.

Page 8: How to talk to your child about sex

Books for Children

0Books for all different ages available0 Ideal way to break the ice and start an ongoing

discussion0Children will benefit having the books at home when

they have questions

Page 9: How to talk to your child about sex

Recommended reading

0 It’s Not the Stork! A Book About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends, by Robie Harris (for ages 4 and up)

Page 10: How to talk to your child about sex

Recommended Reading

0What’s the Big Secret?: Talking about Sex with Girls and Boys, by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown (ages 4-8)

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More Books

0 It’s So Amazing! A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families, by Robie Harris (ages 7 and up)

0 It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing up, Sex, and Sexual Health, by Robie Harris (age 10 and up)

Page 12: How to talk to your child about sex

Resources

0www.plannedparenthood.org0www.noplacelikehome.org

0 Provides guides for ages 3-through high school0www.valuesparenting.com

0 All information in this presentation from the above links