Informing teens about sex

Don't abstain from educating your own children. If you don't educate them Above all, avoid talking down to children and teens about sex. Be direct. Clearly state your feelings about specific issues, such as oral sex and intercourse. Present the risks objectively, including emotional pain. When it comes to sex, setting boundaries and respecting them can both be difficult for teenagers. Help teens understand what's consent, and what's not.

Talking with teens about sex: Do's and don'ts for parents. By Mary Brophy Marcus. November 4, / AM / CBS News. Parents who talk about safe sex with their teens may have a positive impact Estimated Reading Time: 6 mins. According to teens, the answer is “yes.” In national surveys conducted by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, teens report that their parents have the greatest influence over their decisions about sex—more than friends, siblings, or the media. The only foolproof approach to sexual safety, of course, is to say “no” and defer sexual activity until later in life. The good news is that as many as half of all adolescents do just that. But that leaves the other half at risk — many of them engaging in unprotected sex, exposing themselves to potentially grave disease and unwanted pregnancy.

Talking with teens about sex: Do's and don'ts for parents. By Mary Brophy Marcus. November 4, / AM / CBS News. Parents who talk about safe sex with their teens may have a positive impact. The only foolproof approach to sexual safety, of course, is to say “no” and defer sexual activity until later in life. The good news is that as many as half of all adolescents do just that. But that leaves the other half at risk — many of them engaging in unprotected sex, exposing themselves to potentially grave disease and unwanted pregnancy. According to teens, the answer is “yes.” In national surveys conducted by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, teens report that their parents have the greatest influence over their decisions about sex—more than friends, siblings, or the media.

Learn how to approach the topic of sex in a way that helps your teen make wise and healthy choices. As a parent, you know that the topic of sex is an important one to discuss with your children. But just because the topic is important does not make it easy to talk about. The questions your teen or preteen asks may not have easy answers. But the answering can be made easier by following a few guidelines.