Teachable moments that lead to teachable statements

It can be really difficult for parents to build up the courage to talk to their kids about sex and  sexuality. We often put a lot of pressure on ourselves to create the right environment or setting, and to perfect what/how much to say to our kids. Despite my experience as a sexual health nurse and sexuality educator, as a mother of three I can relate to this difficulty 🙂. Talking the Talk aspires to make it easier for parents to have these conversations with their kids. 

To make this process a little less daunting, I recommend using teachable moments you come across in everyday life that naturally lead to teachable statements you can say to your child. Teachable moments are everywhere, such as advertising on the radio, TV or a billboard, actions a movie character makes, lyrics in a song, the list is endless! One of the best things about teachable moments leading to teachable statements is that they are casual and don’t necessarily have to lead to a big conversation about each topic - especially if you’re new to having these conversations with your child  and are feeling a little nervous. A short, accurate statement of your values or an important piece of information can be a great way to get a message across. 

Below are some examples of teachable moments that lead to teachable statements:

“It’s great to hear a condom ad on the radio, it’s an important message for young people to know that a condom needs to be used during penetrative sex, it helps to prevent pregnancy and STIs.”

“Kissing someone without consent is not okay. Coercion is not okay, ever. If someone says no, then it is a no. It is strange that this TV show is promoting this.”

“It’s not cool how that guy in the movie was harassing that girl when she said she wasn’t interested in him. It’s ok to be upset or disappointed, but we always need to respect and have consent.”

“I’ve just come across this article about pornography and how some people your age come across porn. Let me know if it happens to you.”

In my new book “Talking Sex A Conversation Guide for Parents” I dive deep and provide many examples of teachable moments and teachable statements across a wide variety of topics. Think about accessing the book so that you can get the full rundown on how to talk to your kid about sexuality. The book will be out on the 6th of September, 2023! Pre-order here via Amba Press.