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Parents need to talk about sex, says charity

As we saunter into 2005 national charity Parentline Plus are encouraging parents to make a New Year's resolution to talk about sex with their teens.

It comes as part of the charity’s “Time to Talk” campaign and could help delay your teen's sexual activity, and reduce unplanned teenage pregnancy and STIs, says Parentline.

Jane Butterworth, agony aunt for the News of the World, says: ‘I still receive letters from pubescent teenagers who believe myths such as “you can't get pregnant if you do it standing up”. It's clear from this that a lot of parents find it hard to talk about sex with their children, and yet the more knowledge young people have the less chance they have of ending up with unplanned and unwanted pregnancies.’

Parentline Plus receives around 4,000 calls every year to its 24 hour free helpline from parents worried about underage sex. A report launched by the charity reveal that many parents feel that their children are out of control and have reached crisis point as a result.

‘We know that parents want to talk to their children but are often unsure of how and when we do it,’ says Dorit Braun, chief executive for Parentline Plus. ‘If the lines of communication are opened up at an early age, then it becomes much easier to talk about sex and relationships, and to give easy to understand messages on contraception and the importance of safe sex.’

Time to Talk tips include:

• Use everyday media to start conversations - soaps, adverts, TV programmes, magazines – then you can talk about other people, which is sometimes easier to start with.
• Talk about the importance of considering the feelings of others in relationships and not just the biology.
• Ask them about what they think about waiting to have sex with someone they care about, and who will share responsibility for contraception and safer sex.
• Talk when you are doing everyday things together so that it feels more natural –washing up, walking somewhere, watching TV so that it becomes a normal part of family life.

Visit the charity’s website at www.parentlineplus.org.uk for further information about the Time to Talk campaign.