Fostering a healthy sense of sexuality in our young people is one of the greatest things we can do for them. We as parents cannot afford to ignore the importance of sexuality education since young people who have a positive sense of self-esteem and sexuality are best prepared to make healthy decisions. Sexuality education is an ongoing process. Each developmental stage provides a new opportunity for education. In addition to being age specific when talking about sexuality, each of us needs to stop and assess our family's religious and cultural beliefs and how these will influence our children's development and expression of their sexuality.
All parents can be sexuality educators.
If discussion of condoms, AIDS or sexual activity makes you uneasy, your discomfort will be evident to your children. It is vital for you to be comfortable with your own sexuality so that your children see you as approachable. Planned Parenthood provides workshops for parents to help them establish the necessary skills and comfort to successfully talk to their children about sexuality. If you fail to discourage negative and stereotypical remarks and jokes, you are sending a very strong message about what is acceptable. In addition, if you counter some remarks and not others, children will assume that some forms of discrimination are acceptable.