A Necessary Conversation: How To Start The Birds and Bees Discussion With Your Child

11100544274 1137f97b82 zRaising a teenager can be tough, especially when it comes to talking about important life lessons. Your teen might be experiencing their first party or having their first relationship. As a parent you hope that your teen is being smart and won’t ever have to go down a controversial path. When it comes to having the birds and bees discussion, things can be awkward and uncomfortable for both of you. While it may be difficult, it is important not to miss out on having the birds and bees discussion. Without it, your teen would be uneducated on how to protect themselves from rape, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and peer pressure.

Gender and Sexuality

While having the birds and bees discussion is essential for your teens well being, it’s just as important to be there to discuss sexual orientation and gender identity. Rates of suicide among young people is a serious problem. “Young people who are or who are questioning sexual orientation or gender identity are 4 times more likely to commit suicide.” Teens struggling with gender identity can be scared and confused. Including these topics in your birds and bees discussion could provide the guidance and support your teen needs.

6 conversation starters about sex and gender.

A recent article by Psychology Today discusses six different ways to start the birds and bees discussion with your teen on sex and gender.

    1. Use the openings they provide. Take opportunities where your teen opens up about different events going on in their life to ask questions. This allows you to learn more on what they already know.
    2. Ask questions about their friends and their friends families. It’s important to be active in knowing who’s in their life. It’s okay to ask questions like “Do you have any friends that are questioning their sexuality?” “How many folks at your school do you think are having sex?”
    3. Use current events. Use current events that are going on within society. Ask your teen how they feel about the gay/lesbian character on their favorite TV show. It’s okay to share your own feelings as well, as long as they are open and supportive.
    4. Use your own experiences. Try to remember what you were experiencing at their age. Tell them if you ever questioned your sexuality or if you were having sex before marriage. Explain how differently the world viewed sex and gender and how your parents handled having “The Talk” with you.
    5. Pay attention to your language and what you are saying. Pay attention to how you are wording questions. When asking about relationships, don’t include gender in the question. “Do you have a crush on someone?” It’s important to let them know you don’t have any set gender expectations.
    6. Directly say it. Be direct. Tell your teen that even if you hate what they need to say to you, even if it confuses or scares you, that you love them and will support them throughout their life.

Trails Carolina Can Help

Trails Carolina is a wilderness therapy program for struggling teens, ages 11-17. Our students commonly deal with issues such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and other behavioral challenges.
For more information about Trails Carolina, please call 800-975-7303 today!
Image source: Flickr user- georgesjacquaire

Posted in
Avatar of Jeremy Whitworth

Jeremy Whitworth

As Executive Director at Trails Carolina, a leading wilderness therapy program for youth and teens, I oversee operations and collaborate with our leadership team. Since 2022, I've also hosted the Common Ground Podcast for parents: https://trailscarolina.com/common-ground-podcast/ With a background in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education, I've managed adventure-based therapeutic programs across the US and Canada. My experiences in competitive athletics and adventure sports have honed my leadership, risk assessment, and decision-making skills, which I apply to running a successful business like Trails Carolina.

Get started today

Contact us today to learn how Trails Carolina can help your family

Contact Us LP

Trails saved my daughter’s life. Amanda is an amazing human and a brilliant therapist. I am so grateful to her, Science Steve, and the other wonderful people who could reach my daughter at a time when I could not.

Margot Lowman August 2022

Great life changing experience for our son. After becoming addicted to gaming during covid he was very depressed. At Trails he experienced the wilderness, Science Steve, learning survival skills and top notch therapy and support etc… I highly recommend! This gave our son and our family a renewed family bond full of love and excitement about his bright future.

Winnifred Wilson July 2022

 

Outstanding clinical work and superb staff! There’s a great culture at this company and it shows with how they engage with families/clients.

Kristin Brace June 2022

 

Discover If Trails Is The Right Program For Your Child

Take our short online assessment and help us better understand how we can help your family.

A teen stands at the meeting point of two trails in the forest, one leading higher towards the light and one leading down into darkness

Top 5 Common Myths About Wilderness Therapy For Youth: Understanding The History and Today’s Reality

Today, families have access to supportive, safe, and nurturing therapeutic treatment programs. Modern wilderness therapy programs, like Trails Carolina, are far from the punitive boot camps they are often portrayed as. 
A red-headed young woman sits on a hilltop overlooking forested mountains in front of her.

Treatment For Anxiety In Teens: How Wilderness Therapy Can Help

At Trails Carolina, we will give your child the skills to manage anxiety in real-time as soon as they arrive on our campus. They will very quickly gain a sense of belonging at Trails because of the sense of community that naturally occurs with the other students who are dealing with the common struggles of learning to manage adolescent anxiety.
Treating Oppositional Defiant Disorder - A teen boy in a beanie and a sweatshirt glowers at the viewer in the woods.

Dealing with Defiance: Six Tips for Decreasing Defiant Behavior

Most parents know what is like to live with a defiant teenager. Teens often feel inclined to push buttons and test the limits enforced upon them. This can be extremely frustrating for parents and create a constant power struggle within the home. The teenage years are when one is trying to figure out where they…
family reuniting - trails carolina reviews
Trails Carolina’s wilderness camps for troubled teens are dedicated to helping teens work through behavioral or emotional difficulties, build trusting relationships with their family and peers, and achieve academic success.