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WEBSITES for Parents
Advocates for Youth
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/parents/index.htm
This site has a wealth of resources. You can get lots of tips to learn how to talk with your children about sexuality. Find out what you need to know about your child’s growth and development at different ages. There are even exercises to help you get ready to talk about this not-so-easy topic. Highly recommended.
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
http://www.teenpregnancy.org/parent/default.asp
This terrific website has all kinds of help and encouragement for parents, from parent-youth surveys to great booklets. Find out how much your teens need you and depend on you when it comes to learning about sex. This site shows you just how you, as a parent, can really connect with your kids to help prevent teen pregnancy. It gives you insights about how teens think and their suggestions for how you can make a difference. Highly recommended.
Family Communication
http://www.familycommunication.org/index.asp
You'll find tips on how to listen and talk to your kids about sex. There is a fact sheet about this important topic as well as links to other resources.
Get Real About Teen Pregnancy
http://www.letsgetreal.org/Guidelines.htm
Need guidelines for talking to your pre-teens about sex? You can find them here.
I Wanna Know
http://www.iwannaknow.org/parents/index.html
There is a wonderful parent's guide on this website. The guide helps you learn to be an ask-able parent. There are great suggestions to make talking about sex with your children a lot easier.
SexTalk.Org
http://www.sextalk.org/frameset_sexed.html
You can find great advice about how to talk to your child about sex. This site highlights special tips for parents of children with developmental disabilities.
Talking with Kids about Tough Issues
http://www.talkingwithkids.org/
This site gives you advice for talking with your kids about all kinds of tough issues, like drugs and violence, as well as sex.
BOOKS for Parents
If you would like to borrow or purchase any of these books, contact your local library or bookstore with the publisher information that is provided.
Beyond the Big Talk: Every Parent's Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Teens from Middle School to High School and Beyond
Debra Haffner
New Market Press, 2002
ISBN: 1557045178
This book stresses that the more you get involved, the easier it is for your teen to get through those difficult years. It gives you a chance to look at what values you want to share with your teen. It helps you find ways to stay connected as your teen grows. You'll find special suggestions for each age level. It's a great help to any parent! Highly recommended.
How to Talk with Teens About Love, Relationships, & S-E-X: A Guide for Parents
Amy G. Miron & Charles D. Miron
Free Spirit Publishing, 2002
ISBN: 157542102X
This fabulous book covers everything you might ever want to discuss with your teen about intimacy and sex. It gives you up-to-date information about teen sexual behavior, as well as exercises to help you break the ice and invite your kids to talk. You'll find out how to personalize the information to your child's needs, your family values, and your comfort level. Highly recommended.
Let’s Talk About S-E-X: A Guide for Kids 9-to-12 and Their Parents
Sam Gitchel & Lorrie Foster
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, 2005
ISBN 1-931863-18-0
This book gives you a great way to talk about sex with preteens. First part of the book is for boys and girls, and gives basic information on puberty and sex. It's something you and your kids can read together. The second part is a parent's guide. It talks about why and how you should talk to your preteens about sexuality, and what to cover. This book gives you a great way to help you and your kids talk about your own values and beliefs. Highly recommended.
Ten Talks Parents Must Have with Their Children about Sex and Character
Pepper Schwartz & Dominic Cappello
Hyperion Press, 2000
ISBN: 0786885483
This helpful book offers you advice on how to talk to your children about different aspects of sex and character. You will learn how to clarify your values and family rules about sexuality. You can help your children think through challenging situations they might find themselves in. It helps you ask your children questions that will give you insight on how they think. Includes sample talks. Highly Recommended.
Raising a Child Responsibly in a Sexually Permissive World
Sol Gordon & Judith Gordon
Adams Media Corporation, 1999
ISBN: 1580621775
Kids get confusing messages about sex everyday. This book encourages you to take responsibility for your children’s sex education. It helps you prepare to answer questions about sex and gives you practical common sense guidance. You can help your children develop healthy attitudes and values about sex.
Sex and Sensibility: The Thinking Parent's Guide to Talking Sense about Sex
Deborah Roffman
Perseus Press, 2001
ISBN: 0738205206
This great book offers you a way to open up communication about sexual health with youth of all ages. It gives you the five core needs of teens as a guide to connecting with them. This book helps to ask yourself, "What does my child really need right now?" Do I need to affirm, give information, help clarify values, set limits, or guide?
Words Can Work: When Talking with Kids about Sexual Health
Jeanne Blake
Family Health Productions, Inc., 2004
ISBN: 097531470X
This book helps you understand your role in helping your kids learn about sex. This book highlights stories from real families who talk about puberty, values, relationships, sex, birth control, and sexuality.
VIDEOS for Parents
If you would like to purchase either of these videos, click on the title to be routed to the distributor’s website.
Raising Healthy Kids: Families Talk About Sexual Health
Family Health Productions, Inc., 1997
Boston, MA
This video focuses on how you can teach your children about sexual health. It gives you great ideas about how to connect with your kids and when to take advantage of teachable moments.
Talking About Sex: A Guide for Families
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 1996
New York, NY
This video is designed to help you talk with your kids (ages 10 to 14) on the topic of sex. It includes a helpful parent's guide and activity book. It's a good idea to watch the video on your own at first, and then together with your children. The parent's guide covers topics in more detail and gives you hints about how to talk about sex with your teenage children.
PAMPHLETS for Parents
If you would like to purchase any of these pamphlets, click on the link provided to be routed to the distributor’s website.
Communicating Well with Your Child: A Guide for Parents and Other Caregivers
Channing Bete, Title #706056
This excellent pamphlet gives you the do's and don'ts of talking with your kids. It gives to positive and practical tips on how to talk with your kids and what are the commonly asked questions. This pamphlet gives you plenty of resources and is very easy to follow. Highly recommended
Parenting Teens: Straight Talk
Health Edco
This general booklet explains how to connect with teenagers, but is not focused on specific issues. It explains how you can create a two-way street of communication with your teenager. This booklet shows you both what to do as well as what to avoid. Information on suicide prevention is also included. Highly recommended
* If the link does not work, please copy the following and paste it into the address field of your browser: https://www.healthedco.com/servlet/ProductList?cq=wlkparenting+teens%3A+straight+talk
Talking with Teens and Preteens: Helping Your Child Make Healthy Choices
Channing Bete, Title #706211
Ever wonder how to get the conversation with your teens and preteens started? This excellent booklet gives tips on just that. Topics include how to talk about sex, limits, and drugs as well as violence. Highly recommended
Becoming an Askable Parent: How to Talk to Your Child About Sexuality
American Social Health Association, Title #ASK
This handy pamphlet gives you tips on how to talk with your children about sex. It includes ways to build bridges and become more "ask-able". Age-specific information and typical situations for each age group, with possible answers to common questions, are included.
Note:This booklet is written at a higher reading level than some of the other resources listed.
Birth Control: Talking with Your Daughter
ETR Publishing, Title #176
This pamphlet gives you ways to talk with your daughter about birth control. It gives you great suggestions about when to start talking about this and how to explain the basics. This pamphlet provides you the information you need to talk about birth control choices and STDs. It stresses how important it is for the teen to take care of herself.
Birth Control: Talking with Your Son
ETR Publishing, Title #128
This pamphlet gives you ideas that you can use to talk with your son about birth control. It gives you suggestions about when to start talking about birth control and how to find out what he already knows. This pamphlet provides you the basics you'll need to talk about birth control choices and STDs. It also gives tips about how he can talk with his partner about birth control.
Sexual Responsibility: Talking with Your Teen
ETR Publishing, Title #177
This booklet gives you advice about how you can help your kids really understand your values about sex and relationships. It gives information on what sexual responsibility is and what teens need to know. This booklet will help you help your teens make healthy choices about sex. Note:This pamphlet is written at a higher reading level than some of the other resources listed.
Sex: Talking with Your Child
ETR Publishing, Title #129
This pamphlet stresses how important it is to talk with your child about sex. It explains different stages of sexual development and what you can expect at the different stages. This pamphlet touches upon some common concerns and questions that you may have about your child’s sexual behavior.
Teaching Your Children about Sexuality
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Title #AP016
This booklet is very complete and is packed with information. It tells you what a child needs to know about sex at each age.
Teaching Your Teen about Sexual Responsibility
Journeyworks, Title #5374
This pamphlet helps you talk with your teens about sex and sexual responsibility. It points out that teaching kids to be responsible means being a good role model and staying involved in their lives, as well as talking about the issues.