Information for Parents and Carers

Tips for parents – talking to your child about sex

Some people feel that talking to young people about sex might encourage them to start experimenting, but research has shown the opposite to be true. Good sex education can in fact delay the start of first sexual activity.

Young people are fed mixed messages about sex, parents and carers can help young people sort out fact from fiction. Surprisingly young people do in fact want to hear about sex, love and relationships from their parents. However some parents may find talking about this subject very embarrassing, so 4YP has suggested some tips on how to talk to your child about sex:

• Start early, it is much easier to bring up the topic when your child is very young.
  
  
• Use everyday situations to start conversations. Storylines in soaps and other TV programmes are a good way to introduce the subject, as well as talking when you are involved in doing something like the washing up. This helps your child feel like sex is a normal part of family life and not a special or taboo subject.
  
  
• Have books or leaflets for your child to read, or for you to look at together.
  
  
• Ask your child what they think about particular issues. This tells you how much they know and helps you give them answers they can understand.
  
  
• Most importantly be honest and open, letting them know they can ask you questions at anytime. Sex education shouldn‘t be a one off but a gradual process starting from when a child is young and continuing until they have until they have grown up.