Practical Help

Be a role model. Parents need to openly demonstrate love and affection for each other. Single parents need help from others. The male role model is vital!

Protect your parent-child relationship. Be approachable. Ask for your child's opinions. Kids learn by talking. LISTEN before your speak. If it is hard from them to talk, ask them to write a letter to you. Use proper language and be factual. Humor helps and is appreciated. Let them know that you are not an authority on the subject, but that your love them more than anyone else. If you don't know an answer, tell them so and get back to them later with the right information or find the answer together.

Keep the family's standards high.

Provide emotional intimacy for your child. If a teen is going to say "no" to sex, they need another love connection. Give your children lots of affection, attention, and affirmation. Praise them readily for their wise decisions. Make your home a refuge.

Help kids discern what they learn! Teach them how to understand what they see in the media by asking questions. What are all the consequences the character may face? How could the character have made better decisions? Discuss how teens erroneously think sex will solve their problems.

Help your child set reachable goals and to establish a long-term goal in life.

Discuss the different steps of sexual progression and the benefits for waiting. Don't be afraid to say the word "WRONG." You say "No" because you love them. They should say "No" because they love themselves. Help them choose friends and dates wisely, resist peer pressure, avoid conditional relationships, distinguish between love and infatuation, ascertain the consequences of premarital sex vs. the freedoms of abstinence.

Question: What can I do if my child's school is teaching comprehensive sex education?

Answer: There are several things you can do. First, you can ask to see the sex education curriculum your child's school is using. When you talk to your child's teacher/principal, state your specific objections to what is being taught, and have alternative suggestions for curricula. You can also ask to have your child opted out of the program you have objections to. Other Notes: When meeting with teachers/school officials, remember to always be respectful and to not treat the teacher/official as the enemy. If your child's school does not teach abstinence until marriage, go before the school board and propose that it be included in the curricula.

Workshop opportunities (ex: STD's, Date Rape): Parents are the primary sexuality educators for their children. These workshops are designed to aid parents by supplying them with current and accurate information.