How to Talk to your Children About Sex

Let's talk about sex, folks! Its Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and it's crucial to emphasize the importance of having open conversations with our kids about boundaries and consent from a young age. Here's a breakdown of how to approach it at different developmental stages:

For ages 2-4:

Use clear language: No beating around the bush, call body parts what they are. Teach about privacy: Let your child know that certain parts of their body are private and that they have the right to say no if someone tries to touch them. Empower ownership: Help your child understand that they have control over their own body and can say no to unwanted touch, even from people who seem nice. Be a safe space: Make it clear to your child that they can always come to you if they feel scared or confused about anything. Normalize discussions: Break the taboo around sexuality by providing honest, age-appropriate answers to their questions about topics like where babies come from. Let's equip our kids with the tools they need to understand and assert their boundaries. Prevention starts with education and open dialogue.

For ages 5-8:

Reinforce boundaries: Support your child if they want to say "No, thank you" to hugs or kisses from relatives. Encourage open communication about their comfort levels.

Head off guilty feelings: Remind your child that it's never their fault if someone behaves inappropriately. Encourage them to come to you if they feel uncomfortable.

Teach Internet safety: Use parental controls to limit online access and discuss the importance of not disclosing personal information.

For ages 9 and up:

Continue the conversation: Address peer pressure and potential threats as children near adolescence. Reinforce that mistreatment is never their fault.

Monitor devices: Be aware of the risks of online exposure to mature content and enable parental controls on devices to manage access.

Identify trusted adults: Encourage children to seek out trusted adults if they feel uncomfortable or threatened.

Let's work together to create a safe environment for our children to learn and grow. Awareness and open communication are key to protecting our kids. #SexualAssaultAwarenessMonth #ChildSafety #ParentingTips