ShareThisTips for talking to youths about sex:-- Encourage communication by reassuring your children they can talk to you about anything.-- Take advantage of teachable moments. A friend's pregnancy, a news article or a TV show can help start a conversation.-- Listen more than you talk. Think about what you're being asked.-- Don't jump to conclusions. The fact that teens ask about sex does not mean they are having sex.-- Answer questions simply and directly. Give factual, honest, short and simple answers.-- Respect your child's views. Share your thoughts and values, and help your child express his or hers.-- Reassure young people that they are normal, as are their questions and thoughts.-- Teach your children ways to make good decisions about sex, and coach them on how to avoid risky situations.-- Admit when you don't know an answer to a question. Suggest the two of you find the answer together by going to the library or searching the Internet.-- Acknowledge that at times your teen may feel more comfortable talking with someone other than you. Together, think of other trusted adults with whom he or she can talk.Source: Advocates for Youth, www.advocatesforyouth.org(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
Talking to youths about sex
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