Raising Sexually Intelligent Kids : Practical Skills for Parents, Carers and Educators

Many parents feel uncomfortable with the thought of having ‘the talk’ with their children, especially teenagers. But what many people don’t realise is how much of sexuality education has nothing to do with sex itself. In this book, Clinical Sexologist Anisa Varasteh teaches the foundations of a comprehensive sexuality education for children and teenagers and answers the most common questions young people have about sex and sexuality. Contrary to popular belief, talking about sex and sexuality does not make young people more prone to sexual experimentation. This book provides research-based evidence for how a comprehensive sexuality education is important for children’s safety, psychological and physical wellbeing. It identifies the barriers to having open conversations with children and teenagers, and outlines methods for how to overcome them. With a focus on skills, the book addresses the building blocks of sexuality education and how to develop an environment of mutual trust, it outlines key topics for discussion and the skills that children need to develop to make healthy decisions about their sexuality. Complete with practical support, including over 20 worksheets and a comprehensive list of tough questions from teenagers – and suggestions for how to address them – this book is an essential resource for parents, carers and educators who are responsible for the health, safety and development of children and teenagers. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Contents List of worksheets Acknowledgements Introduction Part 1 Foundations of sexuality education 1 Why is talking about sexuality with children important? 2 Why is talking about sex with children awkward? 3 Foundations of sexuality education Part 2 Sexual intelligence skills 4 Attachment styles and their role in adulthood relationships 5 Emotional intelligence skills 6 A strength-based approach 7 Value-based decision-making 8 Healthy boundaries Part 3 Topics to talk about with children 9 What topics to talk about? 10 Provide a balanced and realistic view of sex 11 Include pleasure in your conversation about sexuality 12 Gender and sexual identity 13 Body image 14 Age-based tips for conversations 15 Identifying and responding to sexual abuse in children Appendix 1- Navigating adolescence: answers to real-life questions from teenagers Appendix 2- List of age-appropriate sexuality books for children and young people Index