Pregnancy is the leading reason teen girls drop out of school.
Around 750,000 teen pregnancies take place in the United States alone. If you want to protect your kids from becoming mothers and fathers before their time, you have to teach them about safe sex.
To help you out, we’ve created this short guide all about having the talk. From picking age-appropriate topics to covering contraceptives, we’ll review everything you need to know.
Read on to learn the right way to teach your kids about sex.
Age Appropriate Topics
When it comes to having the talk, you have to make sure the topics are age-appropriate. For instance, you can start educating toddlers by letting them know the different body part names. By the time preschool comes around, you can begin teaching your kids about the basics of reproduction. Simply explain the process of the egg and sperm joining together so the baby can grow in the uterus.
Once your kids are elementary school age you can begin explaining sexual orientation to them. Let your children know that the world has heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual people. You can also begin teaching your elementary-age children about puberty.
Talking to Preteens
While every family’s different, 9 years old is typically the best time to explain the act of sex. We suggest finding a sex education video online. Watch the video by yourself first to make sure the content is accurate and appropriate.
Next, set aside time during the week to watch the video with your kids. Let your children know that you’re going to be showing them a video that explains what sex is. After the video leaves plenty of time for questions.
Practicing Safe Sex
After your kids understand what sex is, you can delve into a safe sex talk. We suggest taking the time to learn more about the different types of modern condoms available today. It’s also helpful to have a few condoms to show your kids. If you suspect your kids are sexually active, you should also make it easy for them to talk to you about getting their own contraceptives.
Don’t Shame Sex
Let your children know that while sex is a natural thing, it has to be done responsibly. You can also touch on the emotional aspects of sex, and how it’s important to wait until you’re ready. Next, thoroughly explain the differences between condoms and birth control. Make sure your kids understand that birth control only prevents pregnancy, not STDs.
Feel Good About Having the Talk
You probably didn’t expect to be having the talk with your kids so soon. However, now you know some of the best tips so you can successfully speak to your kids about sex. Since you’ll want to be able to answer all of your kid’s questions, make sure you find a good chunk of time to dedicate to having the safe sex talk.
Next, decide what subjects your kids are ready to understand. Finally, be prepared to explain the different contraceptive methods, such as condoms and birth control. For more tips like these, explore the rest of this site.
