Be An Askable Parent!

At PPNC, we believe that parents are the first and primary sexuality educators of their children. That is why we provide parents with the skills and knowledge they need to become "askable," active and approachable participants in their child's sexuality education.

Unfortunately, many parents feel uncomfortable tackling such difficult subject matter on their own, especially when their children are still young. Some are unable to broach the issue of sex because of their own lack of information, while others feel that addressing such a mature topic will encourage unhealthy behaviors.

The Benefits of Parental Involvement

We know that addressing the issues of sex and sexuality presents parents with the opportunity to first talk about more comfortable issues such as love, self-esteem and responsibility. Then, as children grow, they can eventually discuss more complex topics such as relationships and sexual behavior.

The benefits of such discussions are clear: studies show that adolescents who reported feeling connected to parents and family were more likely than other teens to delay initiating sexual intercourse. In 2003, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy reported that 88% of surveyed teens stated that it would be easier for them to postpone sexual activity and avoid teen pregnancy if they were able to have open, honest talks with their parents.

Encouraging Open Communication