It's literally never too early to start talking to kids about sexuality! We're not talking just about the "birds and the bees" either. To help kids build a God-honoring, healthy sexuality, there is a wide spectrum of topics to cover that go way beyond body parts and the mechanics of sex, such as God's design for sexuality, sexual purity, sexual morals and values, and resisting pressure from an overly sexualized culture.
Have you already had "the talk" with your teenager? Good for you. Now, it's time to pick up the conversation again. Then, talk about it some more. Why? Researchers have found that parents who have ongoing dialogue with kids about sex are more effective at delaying their sexual activity and avoiding at-risk sexual behaviors than one talk. Kids change over time. Their sexual curiosity deepens and new questions emerge. The temptations to experiment sexually grow. So, "the talk" you had several years ago with your 14-year-old just won't suffice. Now is the time to keep the conversation going!
Did You Know? Adolescents engage in less sexual activity if their fathers talk to them about sexual matters. (Pediatrics, November 2012.)
Did You Know? Sexting -- the sending of semi-nude or nude photos by smartphone -- has become the new "first base" in teen's sexual behavior. It is now considered the new norm among adolescents and most often precedes sexual activity, and serves as a gateway to increased sexual behaviors. (Pediatrics, November 2014.)
Did You Know? Too often discussions about sex between parents and teens happen after teens become sexually active. Researchers found that more than 40% of adolescents had experienced sexual intercourse before talking about sex with their parents. (Pediatrics, December 2009.)
Did You Know? Nationwide, 46.8% of high school students have had sexual intercourse. The breakdown by grade are as follows:
- 9th graders: 30%
- 10th graders: 41.4%
- 11th graders: 54.1%
- 12th graders: 64.1%
(U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance -- United States, 2013, June, 2014.)
