Parents and teens often find it hard to talk to each other about
sexuality. Some parents feel that it is more suitable to save this
sensitive topic for discussion when their teens are physically mature or
have started dating.
But there are good reasons to begin talking about sexual issues
before your child reaches puberty. A school-based survey conducted by
the Center For Disease Control and Prevention in 1997 revealed that 48
percent of high school students had engaged in sexual intercourse at
least once during their lifetime, and 7 percent of students had
initiated sexual intercourse before age 13. Only 57 percent of sexually
active students stated that they had used a condom during their last
sexual intercourse experience.
Be available and easy to talk to. Take advantage of opportunities for
discussion. For example, while watching a television program which
contains sexual content, a parent might ask, " These characters
seem kind of young. What do you think?" This can serve as a
springboard for more talk about sexuality, abstinence, sexually
transmitted diseases and pregnancy. The more discussions you have with
your child, the more comfortable each will become.
Healthy sexuality is a complex part of adolescent growth and
development. Understanding the many physical and emotional changes that
teenagers experience can help parents guide their children. For more
information about talking with your teen about sexual issues contact the
Genesee County Health Department at (810) 257-3440.
