Although more parents today are taking on the responsibility of discussing sexuality information and values with their teenagers, many feel their role as sex educators for their children is made more difficult by various events and attitudes in our culture. Add to this, other sexually transmitted diseases, plus the increasing teen pregnancy rates, and it's not hard to understand why parents feel overwhelmed with the prospect of discussing sexuality. As parents we want to protect our adolescents from the very real dangers to health associated with sexual activity, yet we also want our offspring to know the joy and fulfillment of sexuality in a loving, caring relationship.
Scare tactics can backfire.
In addition, their striving for independence means that parental prohibitions are likely to lead to a greater need to challenge the adult authority. Stress the behaviors and practices that all persons who are sexually active need to follow to prevent pregnancy and disease. Society's ambivalence about sexuality also creates challenges for parents who are trying to help their teens develop healthy attitudes. On the one hand teens are surrounded by sexual stimuli in the media, yet very little or none of this media sexuality provides accurate knowledge or shows responsible behavior. As parents we can be sensitive to these mixed messages, help teenagers sort it all out, and give them clear, honest messages about sex ourselves.