Hot Topic: More Than Just a "Big Talk"
For many families, sex education comes in the form of the "Big Talk." When moms and dads think their children are old enough, they sit them down to explain the "birds and the bees." Sometimes this is the first - and last - conversation children and parents have about sex. But research shows children typically make healthier choices about sexual activity when their parents have ongoing, frequent and open discussions with their children about sex.
The Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics recently published an article on this subject called "Beyond the 'Big Talk': The Roles of Breadth and Repetition in Parent-Adolescent Communication About Sexual Topics." Click here to read the article.
Click here to visit the website of the PATHS Coalition (Promoting Awareness of Teen Health and Sexuality), where you can view a DVD with teens and parents offering insight and advice on opening lines of communication within families about tough issues.
WWW Address: http://www.gachd.org/hot-topic/beyond_the_big_talk.php