by That doesn’t mean you should talk to your five-year-old about condoms and birth control, though. Basic sex education starts with the basics. Over on the Amaze sex education site, there’s a whole section, Amaze Jr., that offers resources for talking about sex with preschoolers and school kids – including a whole collection of videos specifically designed to guide parents through the process of talking with kids . about sex.
But he also knows that it is not too late. These days, Jeselin Marizan, 16, is a youth ambassador for Amaze, and is passionate about the importance of giving children access to honest, accurate information about sex. But she didn’t grow up with those conversations herself. The daughter of a teenage mother, she was largely raised to see sex as something to be avoided. “I was always afraid to give it up,” she admits.
But after Covid hit, Jeselin started volunteering with a number of health education organizations – and sex education became a part of her life. She started casually bringing up topics like birth control with her mom and was happy to find that they could talk about it together. Although she wishes they had started these conversations much, much earlier, she is grateful that the door is now open.
Keep the conversation going. “Some parents think that the ‘talk’ is just a one-time thing. But conversations about sex, sexuality, love and relationships should be an ongoing conversation,” says LeKara Simmons, Amaze program manager and strategic brand ambassador. The more you normalize conversations about sex and the body, the more you build trust with your child – and the more likely they will turn to you, and not your peers or your potential website sexual, when they have questions about sex. the future.
But talking about sex regularly doesn’t mean you have to repeat the same talking points about where babies come from or how to use condoms over and over again. Sex is about more than just the mechanics. Learning about sexuality, respect for the bodily autonomy of others, and media literacy are just as important as making sure they know how sperm and egg create a baby.
Find good resources online (and off) – and make sure your children are aware of them. No matter how great a job you do talking to your kids about sex, there will always be conversations they don’t want to have. So make sure they know they have other places to turn. That could be another trusted adult – an aunt, uncle, family friend – or it could be one of the many great sex education resources available online and off.
Websites like Amaze, Scarleteen, Sex, Etc, and Planned Parenthood and books like Let’s Talk About It!, Sex is a Funny Word, Wait, What?, and Sex: The Scarleteen Book! They are a great resource for children who are curious about sex. Make sure your children are aware of them.
