Talking With Kids About Sex It probably makes you uncomfortable to see the word “sex” in the headline of a church web site, but if the church doesn’t teach them about it, their peers will. Do you remember some of the myths you once believed? Though Jesus had little or nothing to say about sex, he said a lot about healthy relationships, and the church is obligated to continue his teachings. Sex will be a part of most kids’ futures, and the more true information they learn, the healthier they will be. “Research shows
that kids who have strong and open relationships with their parents are more likely to finish school and are less likely to become teenage parents or contract a sexually transmitted disease than kids who do not.”
The Virginia Abstinence Education Initiative has a free parent resource available to all Virginia residents called “Talk 2 Me: A Toolkit for Discussing Sexuality with Your Kids.” Though it is meant for 10-14–yearolds, I just ordered mine. It’s “based on an interactive, role-playing card game for parents and children to play together … and offers parents the opportunity to start
conversations about the issues their children are facing.” The kit includes the game, a how-to guide, and a CD with sample conversations, among other things. You can see and order it at this web site: www.vatalk2me.org. Did I mention that it’s free?
If you feel you can’t talk about sex with your child, no matter what age, and want to enlist the pastor to do so, please call on her! The risks we take in bringing up and discussing potentially embarrassing subjects or situations far outweigh the difficulties you and your child will face if an unwanted pregnancy or STD occurs.
