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Related Reading
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 It's
So Amazing! A Book About Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families
Written in comic-book style, this book
addresses many topics, including conception, birth, love,
sexuality and family, in a gentle and respectful manner. In
the chapter "Becoming a Family," for example, a
variety of families are mentioned, including those headed
by a single parent, by parents who are gay or straight, and
by parents who are married or divorced. Illustrations help
validate each combination as a real and loving family. In
a direct and non threatening manner, Harris discusses cesarean
births, premature babies, adoption, sexual abuse, and HIV
and AIDS.
 Changing
Bodies, Changing Lives: A Book for Teens on Sex and Relationships
It's packed with illustrations, checklists, and resources
for the answers you really need. Best of all, it's filled
with the voices, poems, and cartoons from hundreds of other
teenagers, who tell you what makes them feel worried, angry,
confused, sexy, happy, and, yes, even excited and hopeful
about their lives.
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The Birds
and the Bees
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Today's children are constantly surrounded by the insinuation,
subtle gestures and blatant explanations of sex. Sex sells,
and in today's society that realization is visible in TV
ads, on billboards, in your favorite television show and
in popular music.
We watched countless people lose their virginity or engage
in multiple sexual acts on TV shows like "Dawson's
Creek" and the newest sensation, "The O.C."
Britney Spears discusses her sex drive in her latest hit
"Outrageous" and the Victoria's Secret commercials
tempt teenagers with scantily clad models. It presents the
thought that teenage girls should dress sexually to be sexy
and teenage boys expect that level of sexual freedom from
their girlfriends.
Here are
some tips to help parents speak candidly and clearly to
their teens about the reality of sexual intercourse.
• Start Early. Teens and even younger children
are coming into a world that has more adult content in
the open than ever before. It is important that your children
have a basic knowledge and understanding of sexuality.
Young children are more likely to confront their parents
with questions on the subject, while teens tend to look
to their friends for advice.
• Have "THE TALK." Initiating the
conversations will show your children your desire to have
an open relationship with them. Also, it gives you the
opportunity to convey your feelings and values
on the situation. This allows the parents to maintain
a healthy relationship with their children.
• Be Patient and Honest. Children often take
longer to express their ideas in words. It is important
to be a good listener and allow them to finish their thoughts.
Also, being honest
with children shows them that you respect them and want
to share openly with them.
• Use Everyday Opportunities to Talk. While
watching TV
or listening to radio, parents may see images or hear
words, phrases or songs that seem risque. It's important
for parents to take these opportunities to initiate conversations
that will help bring about natural discussions.
• Talk About It Again and Again. Young children
often have short attention spans and can only sit still
and take in so much information at a time. It is important
to talk repeatedly
about the topic so that they take in all of the information
you want them to know. For teens it's a little different.
Do you remember being in a questionable situation and
all you can hear in the back of your head is your mother
or father's warnings? It's contagious. You remember what
you are taught if you hear it repeatedly.
Written by Tia Albright
Have any suggestions on how to present the topic of sexuality
to children? E-mail
Us!
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On the Web
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American
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
How
to Talk to Your Kids About Anything
Parent Involvement - Health & Safety
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Alarming Facts
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It's important for teenagers to understand
the potential impact that becoming sexually active may have
on their life. Here are a few alarming facts:
•Three million teenagers are infected by a Sexually
Transmitted Disease every year.
•Approximately 20 percent of Americans ages 15
to 55 are infected with an STD.
• Twelve million Americans
are infected each year and of these 63 percent are under
the age of 25.
•One million teenagers become pregnant
every year.
•Thirty-five percent of young women become pregnant
at least once before the age of 20.
•Think
everyone's doing it? Approximately half of all teenagers
ages 15 to 19 are virgins.
For more information visit the Westside
Resource Center: Teen Sex and Pregnancy online or Planned
Parenthood.
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