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Faizan
The thought of discussing sex comes with a healthy dose of embarrassment and trepidation, but avoiding the topic leaves your child in the hands of her peers. Starting early with sexual education in the home allows you to teach your child the values that are important to you. You have the chance to arm her with knowledge and the ability to stand up to pressure long before she is met with a sexual advance.
Call body parts by the real names instead of making up nicknames to avoid being embarrassed. Tell your child which parts of her body are private and that those parts should not be touched or seen by someone, other than a care provider or parent for the purpose of providing necessary care.
Talk about sexuality in terms that are age-appropriate for your child. As she nears the teen years -- when she's likely to feel the pressure to have sex -- give her facts that help her make the decision to abstain. Discuss the potential for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, as well as the emotional impact of having sex. Talk about the effects of teen pregnancy, including how a baby would change her future plans. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends talking honestly about the subject without being too serious or acting embarrassed. If your child learns that sexuality is embarrassing, she may be more hesitant to come to you in the future with questions.
Set family standards based on the behaviors and values you want your child to exhibit. Let her know specifically that you do not want her to engage in sex. Set rules on activities that may increase sexual pressure, such as wearing revealing clothing or drinking. Expressing those values helps her learn right from wrong and establishes behavior expectations.
Support your child's development of her self-esteem. Supporting involvement in extracurricular activities, giving her responsibility, encouraging self-care and telling her you are proud of her accomplishments help build self-esteem, according to the National Sex Offender Public Website offered by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Allow your child to express her opinions at home. Standing up to sexual pressure means she needs to verbalize her desire to not engage in sexual activities. If she doesn't have the opportunity to express her opinions and feelings at home, she may not have the confidence or ability to do so when she is put in a peer pressure situation.
Give your child choices at home within reason. Engaging in sexual activity is a choice your child makes. She needs practice making decisions on her own. Examples of giving your child choices include letting her choose her wardrobe -- as long as the clothes are appropriate for her age -- and deciding on the extracurricular activities she does without you pressuring her. Kathi Hudson, writing on the website of Parent Further, a parent support organization affiliated with the nonprofit Search Institute, recommends accepting your child's decision if it isn't potentially dangerous even when it isn't what you would choose for her.
Discuss the pressures your child is likely to face. As she gets closer to the teen years, your child will face more peer pressure. Talk to her every week about the pressures she feels from her friends and classmates. Let her know she can always talk to you about situations she experiences. She needs the continued support from you, rather than a one-time talk about saying no to peer pressure.
Practice saying no through role-playing. Give her different options for handling a high-pressure situation, such as saying no firmly or simply walking away from the person.
Monitor media influences on your child. Seeing sexual situations in movies or TV shows may skew your child's opinions. Media portrayals of sex are often inaccurate. When you know what your child is watching, you can discuss those inaccuracies.
Call body parts by the real names instead of making up nicknames to avoid being embarrassed. Tell your child which parts of her body are private and that those parts should not be touched or seen by someone, other than a care provider or parent for the purpose of providing necessary care.
Talk about sexuality in terms that are age-appropriate for your child. As she nears the teen years -- when she's likely to feel the pressure to have sex -- give her facts that help her make the decision to abstain. Discuss the potential for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy, as well as the emotional impact of having sex. Talk about the effects of teen pregnancy, including how a baby would change her future plans. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends talking honestly about the subject without being too serious or acting embarrassed. If your child learns that sexuality is embarrassing, she may be more hesitant to come to you in the future with questions.
Set family standards based on the behaviors and values you want your child to exhibit. Let her know specifically that you do not want her to engage in sex. Set rules on activities that may increase sexual pressure, such as wearing revealing clothing or drinking. Expressing those values helps her learn right from wrong and establishes behavior expectations.
Support your child's development of her self-esteem. Supporting involvement in extracurricular activities, giving her responsibility, encouraging self-care and telling her you are proud of her accomplishments help build self-esteem, according to the National Sex Offender Public Website offered by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Allow your child to express her opinions at home. Standing up to sexual pressure means she needs to verbalize her desire to not engage in sexual activities. If she doesn't have the opportunity to express her opinions and feelings at home, she may not have the confidence or ability to do so when she is put in a peer pressure situation.
Give your child choices at home within reason. Engaging in sexual activity is a choice your child makes. She needs practice making decisions on her own. Examples of giving your child choices include letting her choose her wardrobe -- as long as the clothes are appropriate for her age -- and deciding on the extracurricular activities she does without you pressuring her. Kathi Hudson, writing on the website of Parent Further, a parent support organization affiliated with the nonprofit Search Institute, recommends accepting your child's decision if it isn't potentially dangerous even when it isn't what you would choose for her.
Discuss the pressures your child is likely to face. As she gets closer to the teen years, your child will face more peer pressure. Talk to her every week about the pressures she feels from her friends and classmates. Let her know she can always talk to you about situations she experiences. She needs the continued support from you, rather than a one-time talk about saying no to peer pressure.
Practice saying no through role-playing. Give her different options for handling a high-pressure situation, such as saying no firmly or simply walking away from the person.
Monitor media influences on your child. Seeing sexual situations in movies or TV shows may skew your child's opinions. Media portrayals of sex are often inaccurate. When you know what your child is watching, you can discuss those inaccuracies.
Posted in: Teen Dating & Sex
