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Let’s just admit it, talking about sex with a teen is necessary but uncomfortable for most people. Yet, these important conversations can impact a teen’s life. So let’s look at 4 myths that usual get in the way of helpful conversation around issues of sexuality.<\/p>\n
Myth #1: Talking about sex will make it more likely to happen.<\/strong><\/p>\n The opposite is true<\/strong>.\u00a0When a parent talks about sex, he or she can communicate their own values on sexuality, can\u00a0better understand their teens perspective and can\u00a0tailor shared information based on their teenager\u2019s stage of development, life experience, personality, and knowledge level.<\/p>\n Parents should begin having conversations about sexual behavior as early as the later years of elementary school. Talking should include information about the body, menstruation, and puberty.\u00a0In middle school address sexual messages sent by the culture, strategies to resist sexual temptation, flee a situation and avoid tempting situations. By high school it\u2019s all about open communication and listening. That said, it is never too late to begin conversations about sexual behavior.<\/p>\n You can\u00a0begin a sexual conversations like this\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cIt is my job as a parent to make sure you understand and know how to handle all kinds of pressures you face, and that includes sexual ones.”<\/p>\n Fathers and mothers need to be on the same page as to what they are communicating. It\u00a0may be easier to have these conversations when you are walking, driving or doing an activity together.<\/p>\n Myth #2:<\/strong> \u00a0My child knows more than I do.<\/strong><\/p>\n Honestly, probably not<\/strong>\u00a0true especially on topics like oral sex. Just because a teen knows vocabulary doesn\u2019t mean he or she knows what those terms actually mean. And there is a lot of misinformation that kids hear, read and see. So don’t assume that because they say something, they actually understand it fully. Even when they do understand a term, they may not know how to handle situations. So, discuss details and reality. You can \u00a0go over several common scenarios and discuss what could be done in each case. For example, your teen finds herself alone in her boyfriend\u2019s car and he makes a move, what could she do?<\/p>\n Myth #3: Certain forms of contraception will protect you<\/strong>\u2014no contraception is 100% effective.<\/strong> Yet, commercials and ads make it sound like using a condom or birth control is effective protection. Furthermore, there is really no such thing as, “casual’ or “safe” sex. This means talking about the realities of the consequences of sexual behavior–whether those are emotional, relational or physical.\u00a0Openly discuss messages from media (music, TV, movies) and contrast them to the biblical viewpoint. How do these messages impact our thinking?\u00a0Pay attention to your child\u2019s romantic relationships and don\u2019t assume he or she is not sexually active because of his or her faith.<\/p>\n Myth #4: I can\u00a0have the Big Talk and then my\u00a0work is done.<\/strong><\/p>\n Talking about sexual struggles in today\u2019s world is an on-going conversation.<\/strong> You can\u2019t cover everything at once. And you need to react to events in the culture in order to provide a biblical perspective. We live in a sexually saturated society in which are kids are exposed to sexual content on a daily basis. They need a lens from which to see and interpret the exposure–that is you. You don’t need to be condemning and judgmental. Rather, talk about the what is behind the behavior, the messages being sent and how the behavior lines up with a biblical perspective. In other words, get your kids to think about what they see, not simply accept it as normal.\u00a0Don\u2019t moralize, but communicate your values and why we believe what we believe. Finally, encourage\u00a0any question or concern to be brought up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Let’s just admit it, talking about sex with a teen is necessary but uncomfortable for most people. Yet, these important conversations can impact a teen’s life. So let’s look at 4 myths that usual get in the way of helpful conversation around issues of sexuality. Myth #1: Talking about sex will make it more likely…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":419,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[914],"tags":[772,3744,2034,3039],"class_list":["post-9033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-family-relationships-2","tag-parenting-teens","tag-parents-talking-to-teens-about-sex","tag-sexual-behavior","tag-teens-and-sex"],"yoast_head":"\n