Keeping your teen safe feels like an overwhelming responsibility, especially if you’re worried about them becoming sexually active. At our center, we offer behavioural treatment programs for teens who may be struggling with these and other concerns. Learn more about how to talk to your teen about sex by calling Venture Academy at 866.762.2211 or contacting us online.
Concerns About Teenage Sex
One of the most common concerns about teenage sex is the worry of unwanted pregnancies. This affects both teen boys and girls. Teen pregnancies are on the rise, too, because of gaps in sexual education in schools.
Another concern that parents have about sexually active teens is the chance of catching a sexually transmitted disease. Teens are often too inexperienced or worried about how they will appear to their partners to insist on the use of condoms or other types of protection. This puts them at risk of contracting illnesses that can leave lasting traces in their bodies, including:
- Chlamydia
- Gonorrhea
- HPV
- Genital herpes
- HIV
The parent of a sexually active teen usually also has concerns about consent. Consent is tricky for adults, so it’s infinitely more so for teens.
This concern goes hand-in-hand with the worry that your teen is being pressured into sex. Peer pressure can affect your teen in many ways as they develop into their adult selves, and it can lead them to become sexually active before they are ready to do so.
How to Talk to Your Teen About Sex
All of these worries can be addressed by talking to your teen, but that’s not always an easy thing to do. The parents and teenager relationship dynamic is a tricky one; it requires lots of communication when speaking with one another has become more complex.
The first thing you want to remember when getting ready to speak with your teen about sex is to do it now and not keep delaying it. This is because you don’t want it to be a one-time conversation. It’s not enough to talk about the mechanics of sex once and then ignore the topic, so the earlier you start having this conversation, the more deeply the information you provide will sink in.
You need to be honest in this type of conversation. Let your teen know that you’re uncomfortable if that’s what you feel, and don’t pretend to have all the answers. And if you don’t know something, be transparent about it and see if you can find the answers to their questions together.
It is important to talk about the facts of having sex. That said, the parents and teenager relationship dynamic also offers the chance to delve deeper into the issues of consent, peer pressure, and more.
Being strict and unbending on the subject of sex is not a good strategy to take with teens. You want to be clear about the potential consequences of having sex, but you don’t want to fear-monger or threaten them with punishments.
Another crucial aspect of speaking with your teen about sex is listening. Be open to having a real conversation. If they ask a question, prompt them to tell you more about what they know. If your teen knows that you are available just to listen to what they’re experiencing, they’re more likely to reach out to you in the future if they have a problem or a question.
Help Your Teen by Choosing Venture Academy
For teens who are struggling with behavioural issues, we offer treatment programs that get to the root cause of the problem. Our team of experts is ready to provide the assistance your teen needs as they enter adulthood.
Contact Venture Academy today by calling 866.762.2211 or connecting with us online.
