Treating the subject of sex with no-nonsense works to your child’s advantage as much as yours.
Q- Would teaching teens safe sex sort of give them the green light to practice it? I want to be open with my son about this matter, but I worry about the consequences. How can we properly handle this delicate issue?
I commend you on your openness about this matter and your willingness to guide your child through it. It is a subject every parent must deal with— sexual maturation is inevitable, after all, and all young people will eventually develop sexually. Curiosity for sex is a natural part of growing up. But although sexual drive may be inherent, sexual behavior is learned and not innate. This is where proper education comes in.
Our youth need access to accurate and no-nonsense information about sex. Not providing such information may only lead to incomplete—or worse, inaccurate—information. Creating an open environment that will allow our youth to ask questions from us also works to everyone’s advantage.
A matter of responsibility
As children reach puberty, their bodies begin to mature. This may be the best time to impart to them that sexual maturity needs to be accompanied with a more mature sense of responsibility. Having a sense of responsibility is really something that needs to be taught at a very early age. When children are taught to be independent and to take care of their own affairs no matter how simple their chores maybe, they learn the value of facing the consequences of their actions. The ability to anticipate what will happen next and to plan one’s behaviors often brings about delay of gratification and a sense of being in charge of one’s affairs. Yes, sex education cannot be isolated from teaching basic life skills. No matter what your religious and moral position might be, being able to delay gratification and having a sense of responsibility are core attributes we need to nurture in our youth.
Using what they learn.
If we have taught our children to be responsible individuals, this information can serve as stock knowledge—unused. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. We have seen cases where parents who have taught their children well still having to deal with unplanned pregnancies and too- early sexual activity.
With or without adequate knowledge, the natural curiosity that comes with youth will lead some to experiment in sexual behavior. This may not be what you want to hear, but do consider that a teen equipped with proper information may avoid facing more serious consequences later on.