Addressing Teen Sex Education: Navigating a Delicate Conversation

Parenting is a long road full of difficult conversations for both you and your teens. Perhaps the most challenging discussion of all is one about sex education, especially since today's kids seem to be learning about sex at much younger ages than ever before. In fact, by the time you gain the courage to talk about sex education, there's a good chance your teen already has their own thoughts and opinions on the topic. Regardless, having an open and honest talk about sex is vital for your teen's health and growth. In this blog, we talk about how to start this chat, how to set rules for sexual activity in your home, and how to keep your teen safe if they are sexually active. Along with the "sex talk," you'll need to work on creating and maintaining boundaries with your teen. These boundaries go beyond sex education to various parts of their lives, helping them be better individuals as they grow. At Liahona Treatment Center, we help parents understand the importance of creating boundaries and more. These boundaries are also vital to creating healthy rules around sexual activity in and out of your home. Continue reading to learn more.

Start Early and Often

Talking about sex shouldn't be a one-time thing. Instead, it should be an ongoing chat that begins early and changes as your child gets older. The first place to start is to ensure they understand vital information about their bodies and how they develop with age. From there, discussions about limits, pressure to have sex, and other topics should flow naturally. As your child ages, you can discuss more complicated things like relationships, intimacy, and birth control. Maintaining an open mind and setting your thoughts to the side is essential to provide an unbiased view. Also, understand that in many cases, your child's developmental age rather than their actual age should be taken into consideration.

Choose the Right Time and Place

When talking about sex with your teen, the timing is critical. Find a quiet and comfortable place where you can speak without interruption. Choosing a time when you both feel comfortable and have enough time to talk is important. In other words, right before school when you're both trying to get ready or while cooking dinner might not be best. Also, insist on a tech-free talk for both of you so you can fully focus on the conversation. You should also make it clear to your teen that they can come to you without fear of being judged or punished if they have any questions or worries about sexuality. Ensure they know you are there to help and guide them, not to shame or blame them.

Be Informed and Ready to Answer Questions

Like everything else, sex evolves over time. In addition, new birth control methods, slang phrases, and other issues might require some research by you. Or, take your lead from your teen and have them explain what they already know, providing you with information you might be missing. This works best when you've already established open communication with them. Don't forget to discuss the basics of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Whether you learn from them or they learn from you, be sure you know the basics of today's sex topics prior to starting the conversation.

Discuss Values and Rules

When it comes to sexuality, every family has different rules and beliefs. It's important to be clear about your family's beliefs and expectations. Talk about things like the age of consent, curfews, and how they should act in your home regarding being sexually active. This discussion should also allow your teen to voice opinions, as well as help them understand where your values and rules come from.

Provide the Opportunity to Make Good Decisions

When talking about the rules for sexual behavior in your home, stress how important it is to make good decisions. Talk about consent, the use of birth control, and the possible effects of sexual behavior. Encourage your teen to think about how ready they are emotionally and physically and how important it is to talk openly with their partner. While many parents might think that discussing birth control with their teen gives them permission to be sexually active, consider what might happen if they aren't aware of their options. Regardless of their access to contraceptives, their choice to have sex is rarely connected. If your teen is sexually active or thinking about becoming sexually active, contraception discussions are crucial. Encourage them to use condoms or other forms of birth control to avoid pregnancy or STIs, and make sure they know they can talk to you about their concerns.

Focus on Communication

As mentioned above, the "sex talk" isn't a one-and-done conversation. After you've talked about sex for the first time, keeping the lines of communication open is essential. Check in with your teen often to see if they have any new questions or worries. Tell them you're always available to talk and that you value their trust.

Open Communication and Safe Boundaries Are Essential

While It might be hard to talk to your child about sexuality, it's important to do so. You can help your teenager manage the complicated world of sexual relationships in a safe and confident way by creating an open and non-judgmental environment, giving them accurate information, setting clear boundaries, and stressing responsible decision-making. Remember that as a parent, it's your job to help your teen make good decisions for them and their health. Simply forbidding them to do something isn't fair and won't be successful. If you need more tips for setting appropriate boundaries or handling challenging teen behaviors, our team can help. We have many valuable resources on our site, as well as offer one-on-one assistance when behaviors become too difficult to manage in the home. Contact our team today to see how we can help you.