Children receive messages about sexuality through discussion as well as observing their caregivers' attitudes and behaviors. Even adults who do not openly discuss sexuality are conveying messages about sexuality to their children and the young people in their lives.
Silence can be a powerful teacher - it can send a message to young people that sexuality is not a fundamental part of life, or that talking about sexuality is uncomfortable, embarrassing and inappropriate.
Talking about sexuality may seem endlessly embarrassing or uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be. Sexuality encompasses a lot - you can pick a topic you're comfortable with and start there. Eventually you will establish a comfortable dialogue and be able to bring up topics that seem more difficult to discuss. Remember, as a parent or caregiver, your actions and words have tremendous influence over the values, attitudes and beliefs that young people develop about their own sexuality.
We're here to help! Give a call or email and we can recommend a book or website, refer you to another community resource, or offer support and information to help make your work as a parent invested in healthy sexuality a little easier! Together, we can make a difference.
