EMBODY believes parents, guardians, and other caregivers should be the primary sexuality educators for their children. Talking to children of all ages about sex, sexuality, and relationships is important to ensure that young people have the information they need to keep themselves safe and healthy. Additionally, we want young people to grow up with healthy attitudes about sexuality in order to develop into sexually healthy adults.
When young people can talk to their parents or other trusted adults openly and honestly about sex, sexuality, and relationships, they are more likely to:
• Receive accurate information, rather than relying on potential misinformation from peers or media
• Understand their own bodies, how they work, and when there might be a health concern
• Identify sexual abuse, sexual assault, or dating violence, and who to go to for help
• Communicate effectively with dating partners about boundaries and behavior expectations
• Delay sexual behaviors
• Engage in safer sexual behaviors, if and when they do decide to have sex
Resources
These conversations can be challenging. Here are some resources that can help:
• Tools for Parents
• Sign-up to receive our twice yearly parent newsletter.
Parent Workshops
Additionally, EMBODY educators offer a 1-2 hour workshop in English or Spanish for parents and other caregivers of youth with the following objectives for workshop participants:
• To list age-appropriate sexuality education topics for their children.
• To explain sexuality education as a lifelong process of learning about a variety of topics to promote health and safety, including puberty, reproduction, gender, sexual identity, relationships, sexual health, and family and community values about sex and sexuality.
• To recognize “teachable moments” that may initiate or facilitate conversations with children about sex, sexuality, and relationships.
• To identify barriers to adult-child communication about sexuality and suggestions for overcoming these barriers.
• To name additional resources that will assist with adult-child communication about sexuality.
For more information or to request a Parent Workshop, please email Education@ppwi.org or call one of our Education offices:
Milwaukee
414-289-3767
Madison
608-251-6587
Appleton
920-731-6539
