Who Should Teach Teenagers About Sex?

Although it is difficult to start a conversation about sexuality with a teenager, the parents still bear the greatest responsibility. But which person is the most appropriate to teach them about sex?

Who should teach teenagers about sex: Parents and guardians

Most people believe that it is best if the basic knowledge about relationships and sexual intercourse is acquired at home. Therefore, parents and guardians are those who should present children with the basic characteristics of puberty and adolescence. When it comes to discussing sexual intercourse, parents should present certain values to their children and, above all, teach them to be responsible about sex. The view that mothers should talk to daughters and fathers should talk to sons is sometimes unnecessary. It is best if both parents talk to the teenager before he or she becomes sexually active. Parents can also find help in professional or medical books adapted for teenagers, which offer all necessary information. Parents often have condoms hidden in a drawer in the bathroom to avoid an awkward situation of suggesting the use of contraceptives to their children. Thus, a teenager can take the condoms whenever he or she needs them.

Who should teach teenagers about sex: Teachers 

Sex education has also been introduced in schools where teachers devote special lessons to discussions about sex. Thanks to sex education, parents often avoid having a conversation about sex and leave the job to the teachers. This reaction is wrong, particularly for two reasons. The first is that lessons are limited to a short period and thus children are sometimes not given enough information, and the second is that children often do not have enough courage to ask questions that interest them. Teachers sometimes cannot give their students professional explanations about sex. It is therefore advisable that teachers make sex education lessons more exciting by inviting different guests. Psychiatrists and doctors most often participate in sex education lessons.

Who should teach teenagers about sex: Professionals

There are many professional who can help a child gather reliable information on sexual intercourse, its consequences and risky sexual behaviour during adolescence. Today children can already find expert opinions on the Internet, so it is no longer necessary to go to health care centres. There are also various forums where teenagers can ask questions about sex anonymously, thus avoiding embarrassment. In addition, health care centres often organise consultation seminars and workshops where teenagers can learn many things about sex. These activities are lead by professionals who always find an innovative and interesting approach for providing information.

Who should teach teenagers about sex: Media

The worst support concerning the issue of sex education for teenagers is always offered by the media. Namely, they often present a negative or wrong image of sex and rarely have the role of educators. In the American research center, Rand Corporation, they have recently discovered a connection between sex on the television and pregnancy among teenage girls. Namely, girls who are more exposed to sexual content are twice more likely to lose their virginity sooner and get pregnant before the age of 12 as opposed to those who are not exposed to sexual content. Beverly Hills and Rebelde, which are the most popular teenage series at the moment, have a bad reputation among parents as well as psychologists. Upon returning to the television, the first series showed high school oral sex in the first episode, which caused public indignation, while the other series offers an image of popular girls who go to school half naked.

Who taught you most about sex? How old were you when you lost your virginity? Share your experience, in the Forum.