Generous Gifts Funds Listings Summer Bulletin July 2010
Think before you print
Printer-friendly
PDF
Send to friend
From the JFS Synagogue Social Worker
Teens and Sex Today
Parents, have you had THE TALK with your teen? If you haven’t, please consider that children benefit when their parents have open, honest and frequent conversations with them about sex and sexuality. I mention sex and sexuality because sexuality includes the less concrete facts of reproduction. Sexuality encompasses intimacy, values and spirituality, all of which are important aspects to include in your conversation.
On January 19, Claudia Minde, TBA High School Director and I held a very well-attended workshop called, “Second Base Isn’t What It Used to Be: Talking with your teens about intimacy.” We had a lively discussion about sexual health, reproduction, sensuality, intimacy, sexual identity and sexualization. Claudia and I talked about ways to start THE TALK with teens and how it provides an excellent opportunity to share family values. Throughout the evening, parents shared their personal experiences and their concerns about today’s sexualized media environment.
Claudia and I believe that when parents ignore the reality of their children’s sexual awakening, they are trying to ignore their normal, natural and inevitable development. Even if you aren’t yet having THE TALK, your teens are probably thinking, talking and perhaps even engaging in sexual activities with their peers. A very recent Guttmacher Institute study shows that teen pregnancy rates are on the rise again and one in four teen girls have a sexually transmitted disease (STD), with many of them getting infected during or soon after having sex for the first time. The study also shows that the US has higher rates of teenage pregnancies, births and abortions than any other Western industrialized country. If it isn’t your teen, it is certainly all around them.
These are very scary statistics, and they seem to point to a clear need for more sex education and better communication between teens and parents. When we as parents communicate more with our children, we not only share with them important information and values, we are modeling good communication and relationship skills. If they see us value them and respect their feelings, they will look to others to value and respect them as well. This can only bode well for their future.
If you would like to discuss the relationship with your teen, please do not hesitate to call me at 973.994.2290, ext 212, or e-mail me at ahicks@tbanj.org.
