The Importance of Parents and Sexual Education

The Importance of P atomic number 18nts and Sexual EducationWhere do babies come from? This is ripe one question that children ask their parents as they exit to wonder or so sex and in return hope to find out the answer. Unfortunately, however, non both parents want to answer that question or either sex related question for that matter, or even dwell how to.Many parents today do indeed want to contribute to their childrens knowledge of sex. However, even though parents, who are comfortable with their own intimateity, dont always know of the best way to approach the topic with their children or even know how talk to them about it (Crooks, Baur, 2011). explore shows that positive communication between parents and their children can help young people establish individual values and make healthy decisions (Parents Sex Ed Center, 2010). It is all burning(prenominal)(p) for adults of school age children to maintain an open consanguinity with their children in order to provide the ability for them to facial expression comfortable enough to talk with you about whatsoever they may ask. Teaching sex to your own children can be a projection they may make you feel uncomfortable and something that you may find strong to do. However, by being honest at an early age can allow for honesty and open communication as your children grow (Parents Sex Ed Center, 2010).As children grow, a process begins that a parent can follow in order to develop a wholesome sexual education relationship with their child. Whether its starting off answering questions such as, where do babies come from, or talking about being sexually active and how to practice safe sex, it is important to be able to talk to your children about this topic and feeling comfortable enough to do so.Starting at an early age, usually by most age four, many children ordain ask where they came from, how babies are made, or by asking the names of their own sex organs (self-discovery). Many parents may comely p ut off these types of questions in hopes that their child will forget about it and the parent feels a sense of relief in not having to answer. Instead, the parent is making a mistake in not answering and thus unknowingly creating a communication block (Crooks, Baur 2011).When young children ask these types of questions, they arent expecting a complete chassis lesson, but they are looking for some answer. In this case, be honest with them. Use proper names, and perhaps briefly discuss the basics of sexual intercourse (Crooks, Baur 2011). It is important to make sure that after answering your childs question that not only do they understand but also to make sure they are aware that it is okay to ask questions and that they can come to you and ask for more nurture whenever theyd like (Crooks, Baur 2011).Along the way, it is important to teach your children manners, as in we dont skin perceptiveness ourselves in public and we dont touch other peoples bodies. It is also good to teach appropriateness and privacy. If by age five or six your child has not started to ask questions, you need to initiate the conversation (Crooks, Baur 2011).By the pre-teen years, physical changes are going to occur. At this point it is important to talk to your child about the changes that will occur and what they can expect. While this is taught in school, it is good to let your child know that you are there for them, it is not something for them to be embarrassed about, and that what they are experiencing is all a part of growing up and that they are not the only one. Even though children may not guide experienced these changes yet, such as menstruation and ejaculation, it is important for them to be aware of it before it happens so as not to worry them (Crooks, Baur 2011).The teen and young adult age is the hardest for parents to talk about with their children. No matter how much a parent may want to shelter their children, it is vital to understand that your growing child is goin g to experience sexual feelings.Teens find it difficult it talk with their parents about sex beca subroutine of embarrassment, the fact that their parents may not understand them or the belief that their parents will assume they are already sexually active. Parents must imagine that a lot of information that children receive on sex is from friends and the media. For this reason, a parent must know that the less information they give, the more misinformation their child is going to acquire.Some parents worry that by providing sex education to their children they are condoning certain behaviors. However, according to Avert.org, one study showed that in a review of 48 studies of sex and STD education programs, such programs either did not increase sexual activity and in some cases actually showed a shine with an increase in condom use or other contraceptives (Sex Education that, 2010).In April of 2002, Seventeen Magazine and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation conducted a survey. T his survey was given to 15 to17-year olds in the United States about sexual health communication between themselves and their parents. Results showed that little over a half had discussed with their parents how to know when they were ready to have sex, 43% of teens discussed with their parents how to talk to a significant other about sexual issues, 52% of teens discussed condoms with their parents and 49% discussed other forms of contraception (Teens and Sexual Health, 2002).Another study of 14 to 17-year olds shows that parents who talk to their children about the use of condoms before first sexual intercourse, had actually increased the likelihood that adolescents would used protection whereas talking about condom use after first sexual intercourse did not (Parents Sex Ed Center, 2010).A few important things to remember when talking to your teen1) Always remember how you felt and that you once experienced what they are now going through.2) While conversing with your teen, remain respectful share your feelings and thoughts but also listen to theirs.3) Dont jump to conclusions. merely because they are coming to talk to you or aska question, does not mean that they are sexually active4) Dont underestimate your teen. A parent should know their child well enough to know that they have their own values, beliefs, and are able to make responsible, mature decisions when they have proper information to go on with it (Parents Sex Ed Center, 2010).Before parents can be comfortable talking with their children about sex, they must be comfortable with themselves and with one another. It is necessary for parents to become in touch with their own feelings and develop sensitivity to their own sexual feelings. Parents who are not comfortable with talking to one another about sex, surely rule be comfortable with talking to their children about sex. With that said, parents should practice if they feel that may help. They have to be able to be comfortable both saying and ear shot sexual words (Gordon). This is important because children are sensitive to the emotional value parents give to certain words or may pick up what their parents feel rather than what their parents say (Gordon).Most often, parents feel embarrassed to talk with their children about sex, whether their child brings it up or it is time for the parent to bring it up. It may be because they just dont want to or possibly because they dont know how. While many parents today really do want to contribute to their childrens sex education they just quite arent sure how to approach the topic. By being comfortable with yourself and letting your child know that you are able and wanting to answer sexual questions at an early age will allow them to understand that as they become older they know that you can provide accurate information and be somebody that they can talk to.ReferencesCrooks, R., Baur, K. (2011). Our sexuality (11th ed.). Wadsworth.Gordon, S. (n.d.). Why sex education also belongs in the home. Education.com.Retrieved from http//www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Why_Sex_Education/Parents sex ed center. (2010). Advocates for youth. Retrieved May 3, 2010 fromhttp//www.advocatesforyouth.org/index.php?option=com_contenttask=viewid=108Itemid=206Sex education that works. (2010, May 1). Avert. Retrieved May 4, 2010, fromhttp//www.avert.org/sex-education.htmTeens and sexual health communication. (2002, July). Kaiser Family Foundation.Retrieved May 4, 2010, from http//www.kff.org/entpartnerships/upload/Teens-and-Sexual-Health-Communication-Summary-of-Findings.pdf