Talking to Kids about Sex: Did You Do It Right?

Teen CoupleMost parents will say that, yes, they have talked to their child about sex. However, that conversation can sometimes be summed up in a word: "Don't!" If so, a teen will turn to friends for advice -- yikes! Some will admit they were beaten to the punch, quipping, "My child already knows enough." Rarely do parents give the guidance that a teenager wants and needs. If you are wondering whether or not you've said the right things, take this quiz contributed by Charlene Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese, iVillage'sPreteen and Teen Experts, and authors of Parenting 911 and The Roller-Coaster Years. There's still time to learn how to set the record straight.

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  1. Do you think boys and girls need the same sexual advice?
    • I'm not sure, because it's still a man's world
    • No -- girls and boys have different risk factors and so advice needs to be framed differently for each gender
    • Yes -- what's not good for the goose is not good for the gander
  1. If you catch your child watching Sex and the City or another program that contains sexual content, you:
    • Order your child to turn the TV off
    • Sit down and see what questions may pop up
    • Join your child and use the characters' actions as a springboard to discuss sexual choices

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