This post is made possible by support from AMAZE. All opinions are my own. I grew up in a house with a mom who was a bit of a free spirit. Mom’s parenting style was a bit unorthodox compared to other moms we knew. Mom spoke to us like we were mini adults. She was matter of fact, open and honest on just about any subject. I will never forget how she approached the “sex talk.” She handed us a book called, “Our Bodies Ourselves”, told us to read it and let her know if we had any questions. I was six. Even at that young age, I knew I would have that talk with my kids much differently.

How To Make The “Sex Talk” Less Weird

When I became a mom, I wanted to embrace mom’s parenting style, but dial it back a bit. When my kids were old enough to begin asking questions about the world around them, I was ready! I answered them much like mom would have, but more on a level they could comprehend. I believe this shaped my kids to be the inquisitive people they are today! When they began to ask about where babies came from, I came prepared! Here are some tips I found helpful when I spoke to my kids about the birds and the bees!

So Let Me Tell You About The Birds And The Bees

• Start Young: When my kids were old enough to point and ask, “What’s that?”, I wanted to answer in a way they understood. If they pointed at my chest, I said, “Those are my breasts.” When your child is two, that is probably all the information they want/need. From there, build on what they already know. As your child gets older, you can be more specific, and talk about boundaries, safety, relationships, etc.
• Be Honest: Talking about sex can be awkward! If you are uncomfortable talking about sex, be honest! Your child will appreciate your honesty. Once you move past the initial awkwardness, you can open the dialog about sex with your child.
• Be Patient: Don’t try and explain everything there is to know about sex in one conversation. This is a subject that will be discussed several times with your child, so go at their pace. Too much information can be overwhelming, so follow their lead.
• Be Respectful: Kids are naturally curious. It is one of the things that makes them so awesome! If they ask a question about sex, be direct, honest and clear. Respect your child. Don’t talk down to them or make fun of their questions. Again, this will just attach a negative connotation about sex, and you don’t want that.
• Use Visual Aids: There is a lot of great information out there about sex. When your child is young, choose a few books that are appropriate for their age. As they get older, you can find materials with more complex concepts and subjects. As kids head into puberty, I suggest sitting down with them and watching some of the fantastic videos from AMAZE.

I will be honest, I would have loved to have access to the videos from AMAZE when my kids were younger. At AMAZE, they offer a fresh take on sex education, for both parents and educators. The videos are geared towards kids in the 10-14 year range. This is perfect as this is the period when most kids enter puberty.  As a parent, I appreciate that the information from AMAZE is more relatable. The videos are presented in a way that is non-judgmental, with a humorous tone. The videos from AMAZE are perfect for your preteen or teen who spends a significant amount of time online. The videos are formatted like a YouTube video playlist, so it is user friendly for our digitally inclined kids.

I would much rather direct my kids to these videos than to let them Google sex and see what comes up. That is NOT how I want my kids to learn about sex, how about you? The videos cover a range of topics like masturbation, sexual orientation,  gender identity, pregnancy, relationships, and more.  And the videos are not just for your preteen and teen. They are a perfect way for parents and educators to help facilitate a conversation with your kids and students! So instead of fearing that talk about the birds and the bees, AMAZE offers more info that is less weird! Be sure to like AMAZE on Facebook and follow them on YouTube and Snapchat.

Do you have a preteen or teen in your home? Which of the videos from AMAZE would you find most helpful?