Share Your Values
Parents Say
"At the ball game, some guys were talking about sex in a disrespectful way. Later on, I said, 'Those boys made sex seem like a way to use people. For me, sex is about really caring for someone.'"
John, father of
16-year-old Zachary
Sharing Your Family's Values
It’s important to talk about what your family believes and why. If you and your children talk about your family values, your children will think about them when they make choices in life.
Be clear about what you expect from children.
Instead of saying, “Be responsible!”, say something like “We think that waiting to have sex, at least until you’re out of school, is the best idea. What do you think? What kinds of things might happen if you have sex when you’re a teen?”
Play the "What If?" game.
Ask your child what he or she would do “if” and talk about what it would be like to face that circumstance. This helps them come up with ideas for how to handle certain situations. It helps to think things through before hand.
Don't overreact.
If your child does something you don't approve of, speak calmly and explain why you feel the way you do.
