Sexually active teens

Amy Lang, MA Sex Education Expert, shares advice for parents on the best steps to take if you discover your child is sexually active and how to talk to them about it
What To Do If Your Teenage Child Is Sexually Active
KidsInTheHouse the Ultimate Parenting Resource
Kids in the House Tour

Sexually active teens

Comment
86
Like
86
Transcription: 
If you suspect your teen is sexually active, it is really important that you have a very frank, calm, straight forward discussion with them. You need to check in with them and say, "Hey, I think you might be heading down this path. Are you thinking of becoming sexually active? Are you sexually active?" At this point, if your child is sexually active, it's very important that you help them get birth control, make sure they know how to use condoms, and practice safe sex. Once that horse is out of the gate, it is virtually impossible to get it back in. If your child tells you they are sexually active or thinking about becoming sexually active, it might push your values because maybe you were hoping they would wait until they got married or until they got out of their teens. But the fact is that most kids have sex at around age 17 in the United States. It is better be pragmatic and prepare for that instead of hoping they will wait until their 30's.

Amy Lang, MA Sex Education Expert, shares advice for parents on the best steps to take if you discover your child is sexually active and how to talk to them about it

Transcript

Expert Bio

More from Expert

Amy Lang, MA

Sex Education Expert

Despite her 16 years of experience as a sexual health educator, Amy Lang found herself completely tongue-tied when her four year old son had "something very important" to tell her about his penis. Shocked by her discomfort, she realized if she was struggling, other parents must be too. Amy also holds an MA in Applied Behavioral Science and her focus was in adult education and group facilitation. She decided to combine her love of sex talking and her love of working with adults and started Birds + Bees + Kids in 2006.

Amy is a three time Mom’s Choice Award winner for her book, Birds + Bees + YOUR Kids - A Guide To Sharing Your Beliefs About Sexuality, Love and Relationships and DVD, Birds + Bees + Kids - The Basics. She is also the author of the book, Say What?! The Birds + Bees for Progressive Parents - What to Say and How to Say It!

She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Seattle Magazine, Parent Map magazine and has contributed to a gazillion other publications. Sex advice guru Dan Savage says “Amy is a parent’s best friend-with-benefits when it comes to talking to kids about sex.” 

Though Birds + Bees + Kids, Amy helps parents of all beliefs have easy, open and effective conversations about sexuality, love and relationships with their kids. She offers talks, workshops, one-on-one consultations and live webcasts. Amy is also the co-founder of MamaCON - Inspiration and Tools for Modern Moms, a conference supporting the hard work of moms everywhere.

More Parenting Videos from Amy Lang, MA >
Enter your email to
download & subscribe
to our newsletter