Many parents dread the topics of sex and sexuality. Some avoid “the talk” altogether, hoping that school curriculum or other outside information will reach their children and satisfy their questions and curiosity. Others shy away from certain topics and try to give just enough information to quell the conversation for the moment. But children are born with a natural curiosity about everything, including their bodies. Questions about a child’s sexuality start way before the teen years, and parents should not be afraid to address each and every one. Fostering healthy conversations about sex and sexuality will empower your child, teach values and ideas that you live by, and give the knowledge and confidence needed to make healthy, informed decisions.
Dr. Chrystal de Freitas is not only a doctor, but a parent as well. When she found her child’s school curriculum vastly lacking in a secure and honest approach to teaching children about puberty and sexuality, she began to wonder how many other parents might be struggling with teaching their youngsters, too. She realized that parents need a bit of encouragement and help in starting conversations about sex and sexuality. In How to Talk to Kids about Babies, Birth, and Puberty, parents are given step-by-step approaches to encouraging conversations with their youngsters, from toddlers to teens. Parents will learn that these topics don’t have to be embarrassing for either the parent or the child, and that these teachable moments can be turned into positive opportunities to share values and information that will help form lifelong trust between parent and child.
