Teens and Safe Sex – Tips to Make “The Talk” Less Awkward

As a parent, talking to your teenage kid about life can be awkward, especially if it’s going to lead to sex. Having “the talk” is going to be something every parent needs to go through though, and it’s better to actually just sit your teenager down, look them straight in the eye and talk to them about the birds and the bees instead of leaving them to their own devices.

Most parents think that their kids can just learn about this topic through school, sex education classes and their friends, but they may have questions and become too shy to ask them. The reluctance to ask about sex can have disastrous results, as this can lead teenagers to believe in the wrong information and end up doing something that they regret. Parents should be the ones who will explain sex and safe sex to their kids.

Below are a few tips to help make it less awkward.

Facts, facts and more facts

Try to show your teen facts about sex and what could happen if they’re not carful. You can find updated information about STDs and STIs on the internet. Read articles about the current infection rates, new illnesses, ways to prevent it and medication. Make sure you use a reliable source.

Humor

The fastest and easiest way to just get over the topic is to add humor to it. Although it’s a serious thing and you want to make sure your teen understands what you’re trying to tell them, keep it light. Adding a little humor to the conversation also cuts out the awkwardness in the conversation.

Ask them

Don’t forget to ask them. Ask them if they understand the issue and answer all the questions they have about it. Your teen is going to feel uncomfortable about it at first but they should open up to you about it. Try to be open minded and answer their questions as simple as you can. Ask them what their thoughts are about it and respect their ideas.

Never ask them if they have tried sex

Some questions are just better off left unanswered. Honestly, you don’t want to ask you teen if they’ve had sex before and if they did it with or without a condom. Just go straight to the point and talk about sex, safe sex and even abstinence if you want to point out that you rather have them abstain. But don’t force your beliefs on them. It’s always better to let them make their own decisions and you’ll be there to guide them.