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Here are some
traits of an askable parent. Check off phrases that describe you.
An askable parent:
-
Shows
respect, value and love for children.
-
Realizes
that every difficult situation
is not a crisis.
-
Wants
communication, but doesn't expect
to have all the answers.
-
Knows
the most important part of communication
is listening.
-
Doesn't
laugh when a child asks a question,
even in reaction to the child's
cuteness.
-
Doesn't
expect to be perfect, and knows
that admitting mistakes is a valuable
lesson for the child.
-
Is
sometimes embarrassed by questions
about sex but acknowledges the discomfort
and explains it to the child.
Children are
more likely to talk to an approachable
parent. If you check all seven answers,
you
are very askable.
Children learn their values by constantly
watching...
the people who care for them—by seeing
what you do and how you act. Children
begin learning about sexuality when
they are infants, and they are sensitive to a parent's silent
signals. By the time children start school, they already know
a lot about human sexuality, especially their own.
This website is about ways you can teach
your child about sexuality. Sexuality
education is not just about sex. Sexuality
education includes sex, but also the
roles, behaviors and values people
associate with being a man or woman.
Good sexuality education...
is based on the
idea that loving and caring parents
actively discover a child's needs for
information and then find ways to fill
those needs. Even adolescents in their
mid-teens are still learning from you.
(Yes, you can talk to your teenager about
sexuality!)
Good communication...
lets you influence a
child's behavior before a crisis
happens. For example, many children are afraid to talk to a
parent about natural body functions and
whether they are "normal"
or not. This fear may lead to secrecy
and isolation, which, in turn, may
lead to depression, anxiety and other
forms of emotional stress.
We believe that
open communication and solid sexuality
education from parents can delay sexual
activity and avert big problems later
on. Perhaps most important, we believe
that good communication will help you
understand your child and help you and
your child become closer.
We do not
believe that talking about sex or
sexuality encourages sex.
In fact, studies show that informed teenagers are less likely
to have sex.
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