Quick Tips for Talking To Your Teen About Sex
The What and When of Talking to Your Child
0-2 Years
2-5 years
Children should understand their body is their own. Teach them about privacy around body issues. They should know other people can touch them in some ways but not other ways.
5-8 years
Children should know about the basic social conventions of privacy, nudity, and respect for others in relationships.
Children should be taught the basics about puberty towards the end of this age span, as a number of children will experience some pubertal development before age 10.
Children’s understanding of human reproduction should continue. This may include the role of sexual intercourse.
9-12 years
Tweens should understand what makes a positive relationship and what makes for a bad one.
Tweens should also learn to judge whether depictions of sex and sexuality in the media are true or false, realistic or not, and whether they are positive or negative.
13-18 years
Learning by Age Group
Planned Parenthood’s “For Parents” page features resources split by age group from ages 0-19 so you can help them stay safe and healthy as they grow up.
Resource Hubs for Talking With Your Teens About Sex
Answer
Talk With Your Kids
Teaching Sexual Health
Interactive Lessons From Berks Teens
A Lesson on Consent for Parents and Teens
Teens and parents learn together, discuss what consent is, and practice asking for consent.
Healthy Relationships Lesson
The US-based National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health conducted a
study of thousands of school children in Grades 7 to 12. They found that 80%
of those 14 and over were or had been in a romantic relationship. When family
members and caregivers can normalize teen relationships, youth are more
likely to frame their perspectives in the context of their own relationships.
Here is an at-home lesson to help you initiate dialogue with your young people
about relationships.
Download Lesson:
Positive Self Talk Lesson
Parents and Teens can do this activity together! Building positive self talk is a valuable skill that can help your teen in all areas of life. Self-talk expresses itself in how we respect ourselves, how we treat others, and how we allow others to treat us. As your teen approaches relationships, sex, health, and more, positive self-talk can serve as a powerful tool to support them.
Download Lesson:
Resources by Topic
Puberty 101 for Parents
Parenting LGBTQ Kids
Sex, the internet, and texting
Helping your teen delay sex
As parents, we can play an important role in helping our teens delay having sex until they are ready. We can understand the social reasons teens choose to have sex or choose to wait. We can help our kids by setting expectations about sexual activity, talking with them, and helping them build self-esteem.
Get Involved: Organizations, Advocacy, and Campaigns
National Campaign To Prevent Teen & Unplanned Pregnancy (NC)
Teen pregnancy and childbearing among Latina teens are now at record lows. Even so, Latino teen pregnancy and birth rates are more than one and a half times higher than the national average. This section contains tips and resources for Latino teens, parents, and community advocates.