Hey Parents and Caregivers!
Sometimes it can be hard to know what to say to kids about sexual health. We can help!
Berks Teens offers programs, discussions, small group chats, and educational materials about topics like Puberty, Menstruation, Consent, “The Talk”, and more, –and ways to help parents talk to their kids.
Click here to register with us for more information about our programming, our Teen Health Series and any of our small group chats. And get access to our sexual health resources.
Berks Teens creates a safe space to have open conversations and help parents keep their children safe through education and communication.
We want to reach families and youth in our community to better prepare them for their future. So, let’s talk!
Did You Know?
“Studies show that Teens who had open and honest conversations with their parents about sex and sexual health are more likely to delay sexual activity, have fewer partners, and use condoms and other contraceptives when they do have sex.”
“The Talk”
Introductory session to start a conversation between parents and their children about myths and facts about topics like sex, hygiene, healthy relationships. A guide for parents to communicate with adolescents to help them make smart choices for their health.
Menstruation
This session highlights all things periods, like the menstrual cycle, period symptoms, normal and abnormal periods, cycle tracking apps, and hygiene. We even explore some of the wide variety of menstrual products available for females.
Puberty
This session teaches adolescents and families when and what to expect during puberty. Things like changes in their body, their moods and what it means to reach sexual maturity. This can be be a gender specific audience or co-ed friendly session, depending on the need.
Consent & Boundaries
Setting boundaries, asking for permission, being direct about limits, and learning to communicate these things is a cornerstone of Comprehensive Sexuality Education. This is as much a life skill, unrelated to sexuality, and we will cover things like what does a boundary look like and how to set them and respect them.
Healthy Relationships
What does a “healthy” relationship look like? How about an “unhealthy” one. Too many adolescents don’t know the importance of knowing these traits in relationships. We talk about trust, honesty, respect, toxic traits and habits, and compromise in this session.
HIV Continuum
While modern medicine and technology have vastly improved quality of life for people living with HIV, it remains a preventable disease. This session explores the stigmas, facts, myths and behaviors that put anyone at risk for contracting HIV.
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
Resource Hubs for Talking With Your Teens About Sex
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: