Australian teenagers say they need to head to cyberspace for sex education because school lessons are inadequate, a survey by Durex has found.
The research found that teens favour discussion forums and social networking sites for information. Another 36 per cent turn to friends and peers for advice.
A majority of teens (57 per cent) said they do not enjoy their first sexual encounter and worryingly 15 per cent admitted to not using a condom.
It’s no secret, many parents find it difficult talking about sex with their children. The Better Health Channel of Victoria recommends parents do the following when preparing for the ‘conversation’:
Learn as much as you can– issues your older child or teenager is keen to hear you talk about include puberty, menstruation, reproduction, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception, unplanned pregnancy, abortion, homosexuality and premarital sex. The more you know, the less you’ll stumble.
Have back-up information– get age-appropriate books, articles and videos to help you.
Practice – try out what you plan to say (and how) on your partner and friends. Try the words out so you feel comfortable with them.
Make it a regular topic– think of sex education as an ongoing process. Smaller, frequent conversations are better than a big, one-off talk.
Plan ahead– don’t wait for your child to bring the subject up; they may figure you’re unapproachable and not ask you. Plan to start the conversations about sex yourself.
Aim for a friendly chat– try to see the talks as two-way discussions, not lectures. Plan to ask what your child thinks and feels. Aim to get a lively discussion going.
For further information visit: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
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