The Best Resources for Talking to Your Daughter About Sex
Don’t keep sex a secret from your daughter!
Parents: It’s time to show your daughters (and sons too) some love. October is National Family Sexuality Education Month as promoted by Planned Parenthood and a coalition of non-profit organizations since 2002. This month is the perfect time to prepare yourself to have some sex talks with your daughter. The goal? To educate kids about sex, love, relationships, menstrual periods, body parts and so many other topics that your daughter wants to know about and you might be afraid to talk about.
Dot Girl is here is help with the discussion. I’ve put together a list of some resources for you to draw from. Use one, use them all, but use them to talk to your daughter about sex. Research shows children want this information from their parents, not their peers. She may not appear to be listening, but really she is.
Planned Parenthood Tools for Parents
Start with the premier provider of sexual health services. Watch the first video to get your courage up and then watch the rest for tips on what to say and when to say it. Most importantly, pay attention to the information on how to help your daughter delay her first sexual experience and then how to help her stay safe if and when she does start. Risky behavior is not something you want your daughter to engage in.
What She Must Know About Contraception
Methods of contraception have multiplied over the past 20 years. Need help explaining which is which to your daughter? This infographic from Greatlist will help. Review all the methods, some won’t be appropriate for a girl in her teens. But better to know what is available early before it is too late. And make sure she knows that contraception is a joint responsibility for both partners. More thoughts on this topic here.
Yes, she targets adult sexual relationships. And yet there are times when she has good advice for parents too. Catch her on Oprah.com for a great article about Having the Sex Talk with Your Kids.
A great site courtesy of Nemours, this site has plenty of information for girls about puberty and what bodily changes to expect. Review the information and share with your daughter. There are also resources for parents.
Remember, the more information your daughter has about sex, the more informed she will be about sex. The more informed she is about sex, the safer she will be having sex. Good Luck!