During the preteen years, children define and refine their values, beliefs and knowledge about sexuality. Your factual information and open discussion will help your child develop healthy and responsible sexual attitudes. This involves more than just one talk. It's an ongoing process of sharing information.
Preteens often confront life with a newspaper approach.
These questions are opportunities for you to pass your values and beliefs as well as accurate information to your child. If you don't, your child will continue to seek information from any source available. Research indicates that parents are still more influential in conveying values and beliefs than media and peers if parents are indeed doing the job. Purchasing or checking out from the library a few good resources and attending a class on becoming a woman or man are great places to begin. For preteens or parents Madaras, Lynda, 1988.