You may squirm when your toddler, preteen or teen asks about sex—but it’s a priceless chance to foster open communication between you and your child. When you talk with your kids about sex and other uncomfortable topics as they grow, you prepare them to make safe, value-driven decisions.
“I’ve heard so many parents say, ‘My kids know more than me! I can’t keep up with what they see on social media, and I don’t want them to think I’m a moron so I hesitate to bring up this stuff,’” says Nancy L. Brown, Ph.D., developmental psychologist and education projects manager at Palo Alto Medicine Foundation. “But it is so important for parents to take an active role and to just go ahead and be uncomfortable because kids, no matter whether they acknowledge it or not, really want to hear from their parents.”
Here are Brown’s suggestions for honest, frank dialogue with your kids.