Sex education for teens- a useful guide for parents
Sexual content is accessible everywhere, and the danger of sex addiction in teens is becoming more real than ever. As a parent, it is vital to educate your child and instill good values in them so that they mature into sexually healthy and balanced adults. But the subject is often as tough for parents as it is for teens, and you may end up feeling hesitant about discussing it openly with your child. Awkward as it may be, you cannot avoid this parental responsibility. Here is a guide that can give you a clear direction about handling the delicate task of sex education.
Break the ice
Although talking to your kid about sex may sound like a daunting task, it is something you cannot avoid. They probably know more than you imagine, so it is all about breaking the ice. Avoid waiting for the perfect moment because you may end up missing the best opportunities. An open conversation about sex empowers kids and makes them capable of maneuvering sexual relationships in mature ways.
Do not have the conversation just once
As kids grow, their sexuality evolves and you cannot expect to complete their education and awareness in a single session. A single conversation would not be enough, you need to do it on an ongoing basis instead. While it is important to have clear and open conversations, you need to win the trust of the teen. The idea is to make them comfortable enough so that they can discuss absolutely anything with you.
Identify issues and deal with them
One of the key aspects of sex education for teens is problem resolution. When you open up with the child, it becomes easy to identify issues, whether they are open enough or show some implicit signs of problems like porn addiction. It is vital to seek help in time so that you can resolve the issue before it becomes deep-seated. Therapies like Christian Counseling and enrollment in support groups can go a long way in helping the child. Timely and proper treatment can heal them and get their sexual health on the right track.
Discuss healthy boundaries
While you cannot overlook the risk of sexual issues with your teen, the threats of abuse and exploitation are also real. As you educate the child, it makes sense to discuss healthy boundaries with them. Unless your teen is aware of these boundaries, they will not even know when they are being wronged. It is something they should know right from a young age. Also, explain the significance of opening up and reporting wrong behavior whenever they face it.
Get your teen to engage
Conversations and discussions related to sex shouldn’t be a one-sided thing, where parents only dictate a list of rules for the teen. It can make them rebellious, which easily steers them in the wrong direction. Instead, the best move is to engage your teen and encourage them to be open about the choices they want to make. Give them good rasons to make the right choices like postponing sexual activity, and they will probably do it.
When it comes to sexual education for your teen, everything boils down to creating a comfort level with them. The key lies in winning their confidence and trust so that they can be open about their problems and bring their doubts to you without any apprehensions.
