Q. "My 11-year-old daughter is beginning to ask me about sex. I'm not sure what to say to her. What do I say to her and how do I talk to her about sex?
A. Parents can find things difficult when a child begins to talk or ask about sex. As children get older, parents must face the fact that they need to talk to their child about sex. This can be a difficult and uncomfortable topic for parents. However, it is important to talk to your child about sex as it helps them to learn and develop healthy and responsible sexual behavior. Openly discussing sex with your child allows parents the opportunity to provide clear information. If parents don't talk to their children about sex, they run the risk of them getting the information from someone else.
In addition to sex, teach your child about relationships. Teaching your child not only about the physical consequences of being sexually active, but the emotional consequences will give them a head start. Parents may also want to look for opportunities to bring up sexuality issues. Discussing gay or bisexual issues with your teen may be difficult but necessary.
Some ways or topics to talk with your child about sex include:
- Explanation of reproduction in females and males.
- Discuss the physical act of sex and sexually transmitted diseases.
- Let your child know that they can talk to you about sex without being criticized or punished.
- Keep the lines of communication open. This can mean the difference between their questions about sex being answered by you or one of their peers.
- Let your child know that you love and support them no matter what they think or feel about sex.
For more information visit my website at www.coastaltherapist.com. If you have a relationship or parenting question send me an email at firstname.lastname@example.org. Your question may be answered in one of my upcoming columns. Happy Parenting and Relationship Happiness!