Your family may take a road trip this summer. Maybe you’re heading to the beach, to relatives’, or to a campground. You’ll have the kids in the car for a block of time, so maybe you’re thinking about plunging into a talk about sex while there are fewer distractions than usual. It’s probably better if […]
Babies Do NOT Come from Mommies’ Tummies
Little kids are infinitely curious about the world. They’re little scientists, trying to figure out how everything works. (That’s the reason they ask so many exhausting “why” questions.) They also don’t have filters for what topics are awkward or impolite. They see, they notice, so they comment or ask about whatever is in front of […]
Which Parent Should Teach the Birds & the Bees?
Teaching kids about sex is uncomfortable for most parents. If you’re a single parent, the task pretty much falls to you, comfortable or not. But if there are two parents in the picture, who should cover it? Can you let your spouse handle the job? Well, maybe…but not really. It’s best for kids if both […]
Growing Your Child’s Sexual Health
There’s so much to nurture when we raise kids. We help them to grow in so many areas: language, emotional self-control, social interactions, practical skills, academics, compassion…. While you’re working on all that, remember to also factor in their sexual health. Even though it will be years before they’re sexually active, what you do now […]
Protecting Your Kid from Porn
The amount and variety of pornography available on the internet is truly amazing. And if you’re a parent, it’s truly terrifying. How can you keep your children from seeing sexual material—-especially anything-but-mainstream behavior—that’s far beyond their ability to comprehend? Finding pornography at an early age is usually very unsettling for kids. Unlike teens, who have […]
Talking about Sex: What a Difference a Word Makes
Often, it’s not so much what we say as the way we say it. Case in point: the words we use to talk about sex, especially when talking with our children (or whenever they can hear us). Think about these alternatives: Have sex Screw Fornicate Do one’s “wifely duty” Get laid F**k Be intimate Make […]
How to Talk to Kids about Sex? Ask the Unitarians
It always seems a little odd to me that sex and religion are seldom talked about in the same breath. When most religious groups speak out on a sexual topic, it’s usually a negative, something people “shouldn’t” do. But sex is such an integral part of our humanity—and can be such a profound, even spiritual […]
Can’t I Wait a Couple Years to Tell My Kid About Sex?
Let’s face it: Talking with your kids about sexuality can be awkward. So it’s natural to want to put it off a bit, because, you know, they’re still young, and maybe they’re not mature enough to understand, and I want to keep them innocent, and the school will cover it soon enough, and my parents […]
TalkStarter for Young Kids: But How Did the Baby Get in There?
The easiest way to teach kids about pregnancy and conception is to let them ask—as most little kids will when they see a pregnant woman. “Why does Aunt Julie have a big belly?” “Why is Mrs. Smith so fat?” Your job is to answer the question—and continuing answering the follow-up questions until your child seems […]
How Is Your Marriage Affecting Your Kid’s Future Sex Life?
When we think of teaching kids about sex, we usually think of buying books for them and having “The Talk” (or, better, a series of many talks). But the way we behave in our own marriage/partnership is at least as important for our kids’ future sex lives. From watching how the two of you interact, […]