Unpacking the unmentionables: Talking to your kids about drugs, sex & porn
About This Episode
Talking to your kids about drugs, sex and porn can be tough - but it's necessary. Tune in to get tips on how to start and have the conversation.
Featuring
Additional Info
RECAP
Talking to your children about difficult subjects like sex, pornography, or drugs can be awkward, but it is necessary nonetheless. Don’t think of these discussions as a once in a lifetime “talk” that you avoid until it’s impossible to continue doing so. Instead, make these discussions regular occurrences that move sequentially throughout your child’s development, deepening their understanding as they mature. Paint a beautiful portrait of the type of life you want your children to live in addition to presenting the negative consequences of addiction and sexual indiscretion. Finally, remember that the best defense against the development of harmful behaviors is a strong familial bond. Create a loving, wholesome environment for your children so that they don’t feel the pull to find fulfillment elsewhere.
CONVERSATION
How did your parents talk to you about “the unmentionables”? What can you learn from that experience?
THIS WEEK'S ACTION
- If you haven’t already, try opening up a dialogue with your children about the “unmentionables.” Make it age appropriate and start small with things like dating and physical affection.
- To minimize the awkwardness of talking to your children about sex, try talking to your spouse about it first and practicing what you are going to say.
- Continue having conversations as the occasion dictates. Remember not to have a single, isolated “talk” but rather an ongoing conversation with your child that flows naturally from his or her developmental progress.
TOOLS
The following tools can help you along the way.
National Institute on Drug Abuse: Family Check Up
The Struggle is Real podcast is based off the book, The Struggle is Real: Parenting in the 21st Century written by Dr. Alicia La Hoz & Dr. Paul Meier.
More Episodes
Talking to children about divorce
Divorce is a stressful and emotional experience for everyone involved. And when children are involved, it can often leave them feeling as though their whole...
Listen to Episode
Raising future spouses
As a parent, have you ever thought that you aren't just raising your own children, but you are also raising someone else's future spouse, life...
Listen to Episode
Preparing them for puppy love
The current cultural trend in America is for children to begin dating at earlier and earlier ages. This means that now, perhaps more than ever...
Listen to Episode
Marriage or baby carriage: Talking to your kids about marriage & education
The “success sequence,” is the research supported notion that people who get an education, then a job, then get married and, lastly, have children are...
Listen to Episode