Essential advice for parents having "the sex talk" with your kids

See Wendy Walsh, PhD's video on Essential advice for parents having "the sex talk" with your kids...
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Essential advice for parents having "the sex talk" with your kids

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Talking to children about sex can make people feel a little bit uncomfortable. But the important thing is you begin to do it when they begin to ask questions. So if you happen to have a 4 year old and they ask "How did the baby get into your tummy mommy?" Which is what happened with me, that's the time you begin giving them answers - simple, concrete, age appropriate answers. Tell a child that you're the place to come to as the source of information. But if you shut them down early, "The stork put it in there. I don't know" then they will go out to the school yard and get misinformation later. Now, if you have waited until they are middle school and hitting adolescence and you're realizing you've got to get to this, then I'd say the first thing is to make sure you're clear within yourself about what your morals and values are so that you can impart them very calmly to your child as family values. Secondly, when you do get that lesson about sex, make sure it's not just a plumbing lesson. It's not a biology class. We want to talk about the emotional consequences of sex. We want to talk about how sex can be a bonding experience. The various meanings of sex. Try to not be judgmental and angry and sex-negative. You want to be sex-positive but you also want to show boundaries and you want to show the psychological piece as well and the commitment piece. And the other thing is, if you feel uncomfortable, do it when you're driving in the car and they're looking out the window. Do it when you're shopping and somewhere - just be distracted. You don't have to sit down and make it this big, heavy grave conversation. So keep the conversation light and loving so it doesn't overwhelm your kids and they can get the vital information they need.

See Wendy Walsh, PhD's video on Essential advice for parents having "the sex talk" with your kids...

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Wendy Walsh, PhD

Relationship & Parenting Expert

Dr. Wendy Walsh was nominated for an Emmy Award for her work as co-host on The Dr. Phil spinoff, The Doctors TV show. She also hosts Investigation Discovery Network’s “Happily NEVER After,” as well as being part of Dr. Drew’s Behavior Bureau on HLN Network. On CNN and 9 Network, Australia, she breaks down the psychology of sex, love, gender roles, divorce, parenting and other human behaviors. Dr. Wendy is an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at California State University, Channel Islands. She holds a B.A. in Journalism, a Masters degree in Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, and is the author of three books and numerous publications, including The 30-Day Love Detox. She appears regularly on The Today Show, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, The Steve Harvey Show, The O’Reilly Factor, Inside Edition, The Katie Couric Show, Jane Velez-Mitchell, and The View.

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