Also in this issue: Safe Bicycle Riding Prevents Injuries Here Comes the Sun Dispelling Heart Murmur Myths Drowning Prevention: Ready, Set, Save! Protect Your Family from Influenza A(H1N1) NEWSLETTER HOME PAGE		Talking With Younger Children About Sex It is not always necessary to sit a child down and have 'the talk.' Educating your children about sex is a necessary part of parenting – just as teaching your kids about strangers or looking both ways before crossing the street, says Dr. Peter Stavinoha, Ph.D., a child psychologist at Children’s Medical Center. “It also can help set the foundation for later healthy intimate relationships by developing healthy and realistic attitudes toward sex.” “Start with a foundation of good communication,” Stavinoha says. “Your children need to know that you will engage them in any topic they can bring up. If you are not willing to discuss a topic with them, they will get the information from somewhere else.” It is not always necessary to sit a child down and have “the talk.” Kids will usually provide plenty of opportunities for parents or guardians to give them information about sex and reproduction. Stavinoha offers these pointers: Answer questions as they come up, and take advantage of these times of natural curiosity to get the discussion going. Keep in mind that your answers must be developmentally appropriate – that is, you will give your 12-year-old more information than your 5-year-old, but in both cases, be honest and accurate. Seek out resources to make sure you are accurate and knowledgeable about the topic. Give truthful, informative answers to questions – there is nothing to be gained by providing inaccurate or misleading information. Watch your child for signs they have heard enough – young children do not need an entire lecture. Usually, they have a specific question and only need an answer to that question. “Impart your values through open discussion rather than through avoidance or denial – this is not the time to be squeamish or puritanical,” Stavinoha says. “Avoid over-romanticizing sex or scaring your child about sex.” Moreover, by age 11 or so (definitely by the onset of puberty), make sure your child has appropriate ‘sexual survival skills’ — accurate knowledge about sex and how to prevent STD’s and pregnancy. “Talking about sex with your kids makes many parents uncomfortable, but sex can be potentially dangerous, and we cannot control everything our kids do or the situations in which they might find themselves,” Stavinoha says. “Sex is also a part of healthy intimate relationships as adults, so it is important to help prepare children in a balanced, informative way about this topic.” Last reviewed: May 2009		Find a Speciality & Service Support Children's childrens.com
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