Advice to parents: Let’s talk about sex Home Fitness

Advice to parents: Let’s talk about sex

Posted by Archie Dollery 23 Sep, 2011

It’s estimated that about half of parents don’t talk to their children about puberty, relationships and sex. In fact a recent survey of 9,000 young people showed that 46% said they had received ‘nothing or ‘not a lot’ of information on sex and relationships from their parents. Embarrassment, not knowing what to say at what age, and a lack of confidence and knowledge about sexual health, prevents parents from engaging with the issue in the home.

In response, the sexual health charity FPA, are launching their ‘Facts of Life’ national campaign to empower parents with the skills and information to talk to their children about puberty, relationships and sex. The campaign also comes in the wake of growing fears about the sexualisation of childhood.

Recent Government initiatives such as the Bailey Review identify many of the consequences and concerns about the sexualisation of children. However, what is missing says FPA, is practical advice and support to help parents tackle the subject in the home.

As the UK’s leading and trusted authority, FPA has spent a decade helping 15,000 parents talk through the facts of life with their children through their Speakeasy parenting programme. The Facts of Life campaign aims to build on this work by disseminating almost 200,000 FPA leaflets ‘Talking with confidence to your children about puberty relationships and sex’ across the UK.

Packed with practical advice, the leaflets are being sent by the charity to venues such as: Sure Start centres, sexual health clinics, GPs, schools and colleges. And they are also available online.

Julie Bentley Chief Executive FPA said:

“Explaining to a five year old where babies come from might be challenging enough. But as children get older, parents have things like the internet, fashion, music videos, gaming and pornography to deal with. It’s no wonder parents struggle with how to talk to their children about these difficult subjects.

We’ve produced this leaflet and the online information because we don’t think there’s enough practical support for parents. They should be reassured that with the right help and advice talking about the facts of life with your child doesn’t have to be difficult. And many parents find that once they start addressing the often taboo subject of sexual health and relationships as a family conversation, other subjects also become more straightforward as well.”

The campaign is running as part of the FPA annual Sexual Health Week 12-18 September. Six thousand outlets across the UK are taking part.

” href=”http://www.fpa.org.uk/pressarea/pressreleases/2011/september/in-todays-sexualised-society-parents-must-talk-to-their-children-about-puberty-relationships-and-sex-says-fpa” target=”_blank”>The Family Planning Association (FPA): Puberty, relationships and sex)

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