A school-age child is beginning to understand about things like death, sickness and sex. Make sure by the time they are teenagers your children know how to protect themselves and their partners against this and other sexually transmitted diseases. It is important to teach your children the difference between touching that is okay and touching that is not okay. Teach them to stand up for themselves and not let anyone talk them into doing anything that makes them uncomfortable. And let them know they can come to you for help whenever they can't handle a situation themselves.
Sex seems to be everywhere in our society-on television, in movies, in advertising.
Many parents disagree with some of the messages their children get about sex from these sources. Let your children know what you object to as well as what you believe yourself. You might use a television ad as a springboard for a talk about whether or not buying the right brand of clothes or perfume will make a person more desirable. A movie might start a discussion of how men and women relate to each other. Remember, your children will find out about sex.