Key Reasons Why It’s Important To Have The Sex Education Talk With Your Teens

Curiosity about sex can be considered a process of learning the body – and sex education can help teenagers to understand and to be more comfortable with their bodies.

In these types of situations, parents play an essential role in the process as they are considered as the essential sex educators for their children. While sex education may be taught in a health class in school, you should still think of speaking to your child about some things they may find difficult to understand. Below are some key reasons why it’s vital to have a sex education talk with your teens.

Imparting of family values: Remember that beginning a conversation about sex with your teens can be an excellent sex education strategy.

• Initiating a sex education talk with your teens may also mean an opportunity to impart your family values to them.
• If your family believes that sex should only be done after marriage, the discussion about this can help your teens thoroughly understand the purpose of sex.
• Take note that your child’s knowledge about sex begins at an early stage and your inability to communicate with them about it means having little control over what they understand about sex, which can conflict with your family values.
• That’s why it’s best if you have an early, honest and open sex education talk with your teens so that you’ll also be able to protect your family values.

Understanding appropriate and inappropriate behaviors: Having a sex education talk with your teens can help them identify and understand appropriate and inappropriate behaviors.

• Although it may seem awkward, take note that parents have the responsibility to educate their child about sex.
• You should also keep in mind that sex education should happen first at home because doing so can help them distinguish appropriate and inappropriate behaviors about sexuality.
• By teaching them about sex, your kids know what behaviors are necessary and what is not. For example, if a family doctor examines your child’s genitals, they know that it’s okay because their parents are there. However, it can be a different story if a babysitter wants to see their genitals.

Acceptance of emotional and physical changes: Take note that parents shouldn’t only rely on the school to instill sex education. For, after all, sex education is a parent’s primary obligation.

• Remember that teenagers may find it hard to understand the emotional and physical changes they go through with their bodies. However, sex education can make it easier for them to recognize these differences.
• Providing sex education as early as possible can factor into your child’s understanding about the puberty stage. They’ll acknowledge that puberty is coming and that they will feel differently about their body.
• Having a regular sex education talk with your child may also mean preparing them for their body’s emotional and physical changes.

Less vulnerability to sexual abuse: It has been noted that sex education can help protect your child from sexual abuse.

• Having meaningful conversations with your child about sexuality is the same as keeping them from the possibility of being sexually abused or exploited by others.
• When you begin to share your relationships and values with your child, they’ll get to learn the following:

1. How to get along with different people
2. How to manage and recognize their feelings
3. Various types of touch and their implications
4. Private and public behaviors
5. Female and male body parts which are private and public

Protection from unwanted pregnancy and abortion: Parents always want the best for their child. If you want to protect your child from unintended pregnancy and abortion, entering into a sex education talk with them can be beneficial.

• You don’t have to be an expert in sex education before you can guide your children through their choices and decisions in life. As their parents, it’s your responsibility to make sure that they’ll become parents when they’re ready and not just because of mistakes.

Knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases: Remember that talking about sexuality with your child can be sometimes stressful. However, you have to understand that children are more receptive to information when it comes from their parents.

• As a parent, you’re obliged to ensure your child’s protection from sexually transmitted diseases. You can only do that if you start having a regular sex education talk with them.
• If your child understands the effects of sexually transmitted infections, there’ll be higher chances that they’ll also avoid them. That way, they’ll be more responsible with their experiences of sex.

Even with the existence and support of external resources about sexuality, sex education talks from parents are still the best option. Often, your child may feel uncomfortable sharing a sexuality issue with you. However, as a parent, it’s essential that you acknowledge your child’s feelings and reassure them with your presence. In the end, make sure that you’re the first source of information about sex education. That way, you’ll hopefully be able to safeguard them from the pressure to have sex, possible sexual exploitation, unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Angela Hall – Angie is a health enthusiast who specialises in spreading STD education across the country. She enjoys what she does and loves to travel to different areas. She loves to write for websites and is a family girl at heart.