Talking with Children about Sex: Keys to Sexual Health and Safety

Many of us are uncomfortable talking candidly with our children and teens about sex, perhaps hoping sex education programs at school will do the job. And yet, research shows that, as parents, we often overestimate what our children learn at school. And we underestimate the impact we will have on our children’s attitudes and behaviors if we muster the courage and confidence to talk openly about this important aspect of human development.   Author Janet Rosenzweig, Executive Director of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children and a longtime sex educator and author, joins Marti & Erin to talk about what it means to speak comfortably and accurately about sex with children and teens. For example, she emphasizes the importance of teaching children about sexual arousal as an autonomic (involuntary) response that has nothing to do with thought or reason – a critical element in discerning between arousal and love. And she highlights that, when parents take responsibility as primary sex educators for their children, they have the opportunity to wrap those messages in their family’s values. Above all, Dr. Rosenzweig makes a strong case for arming our children with detailed, accurate information about the natural sexual responses humans experience, which in turn will empower our children to make healthy, safe choices now and later.   HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT TALKING WITH YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT SEX? How did your parents or other adults talk to you about sex? How helpful were those conversations in terms of your understanding of your own sexual arousal and the choices you made about sexual behavior? In what ways do you want to do things the same or differently as you try to prepare your children for making safe, healthy sexual decisions?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TALKING WITH CHILDREN ABOUT SEX? ❉ THE SEX-WISE PARENT & THE PARENT'S GUIDE TO TALKING ABOUT SEX. Check out these great books from this week's guest, Dr. Janet Rosenzweig. Or better yet, purchase them here (click book image to purchase through our affiliate link):   ❉ TEACHING OUR CHILDREN ABOUT SEX, LOVE AND EQUALITY: A CONVERSATION ABOUT SEX EDUCATION. Listen to this episode of Mom Enough with Bonnie Rough, author of Beyond Birds & Bees: Bringing Home a New Message to Our Kids about Sex, Love and Equality.   ❉ ERIN'S RECOMMENDED BOOKS ABOUT SEX FOR KIDS: For 4 years old and up (click book image to purchase through our affiliate link):