As prom season approaches, one of the greatest concerns of many parents is talking to their kids about sex. It may be shocking to realize how rapidly the baby you once nursed is developing into a young man or woman. Not only must a parent confront his or her own feelings about the changes taking place as a child experiences adolescence but he must also consider the external factors and risks that cannot help but increase parental fear over this period of life. Children and adolescents need input and guidance from parents to help them make healthy and appropriate decisions regarding their sexual behavior since they can be confused and over-stimulated by what they see and hear.
Many parents avoid or postpone talking to their kids about sex.
Each year about one million teenage girls become pregnant in the United States and three million teens get a sexually transmitted disease. Talking to your children about love, intimacy, and sex is an important part of parenting. Talking about sex may be uncomfortable for both parents and children. Parents can be very helpful by creating a comfortable atmosphere in which to talk to their children about these issues. Parents should respond to the needs and curiosity level of their individual child, offering no more or less information than their child is asking for and is able to understand.