what materials can I use to teach my teenager about STD'S?

Question

My daughter does not have sex education at her school. I want to teach her about sex and STD. She is 12

My daughter is 12 and we caught her looking at porn on the web. She got the website from a class mate. Her school doesn't offer sex education, therefore I want to know the best way to teach her about sex and STD's.

Answer 1

It's natural for an adolescent to be curious about sex, and your daughter is at the age where not only is she clueless, so are her peers. To make matters worse, they're vying to show off who knows more about adult subject matter and all things taboo.

You are her mother, and it's up to you to determine how best to educate your daughter about sex. Contrary to what others have said before me, she's already showing evidence of curiosity, so it's time NOW to act, to answer her questions before she gets the wrong idea about everything.

About the porn issue, add a NetNanny to your computer so that she can't view objectionable material. Then explain to your daughter that like any movie or fictional novel, pornography is not real. And while it depicts graphic sexual acts, very little about pornography depicts reality. The acts they depict are often not what people do in their homes. The situations are not the same. Even the bodies are not real -- they're surgically altered and covered in makeup! And to boot, tell her that a lot of those actors had very unhappy home lives and many have problems with self-esteem and drug abuse. Consuming porn supports an industry that hurts a lot of people.

So now, how should you approach the topic of STDs with your daughter? The best way is to educate yourself first! Read reliable websites like http://www.cdc.gov/std for current info. Get familiar with how STDs are spread. For example, you should know that herpes and HPV (the virus that causes cervical cancer) are spread by skin contact, and no penetration is required. Therefore, supposedly "safe" activities like dry humping can still be a risk.

And definitely talk to your daughter about how pregnancy happens. Clear up as many myths as possible. A lot of teens still believ you can't get pregnant on the first try. And many desperate teens who ostensibly oppose abortion still seek advice on how to purposely punch themselves in the gut to induce miscarriage.

Lastly, instill morals and values. I can tell you all the clinical stuff you want to hear, but parents are the people who should shape a child's character. Tell your daughter why it is important that she act morally and decently. Tell her why it is important for her to save sexual exploration for the appropriate time in her life (which is obviously not age 12). Tell her about responsibility, consequences and the importance of making the right choices. And tell her why these things are important to you, and why they should be important to her, too.

Feel free to drop me a line for more information.

Answer 2

Stop in to your local health department and request information. They should have plenty of pamphlets to help you, otherwise go the the CDC website and there should be information you can order for little or no cost. The key is education, teach them what they need to know to keep them safe. Merely teaching them to not have sex is not near enough. Would you rather have your child safe and alive or teach them something unrealistic, and have them catch something that could kill them. 12 Is not too young to start teaching them the facts.

Let us not forget 12 year old's are having babies, this means the instruction was too late even at 12. Age appropriate information should start well before a child starts to ask questions, and then the parents needs to be honest not sugar coat it for the child.

Answer 3

take her to the local health department Gawd do they have material out the ying yang. It is some nasty crap but they need to learn now before they have to deal with the ramifications later. I recall the STD book where they have pictures of actual male and female infected parts and oooh it was gross. Don't worry about her seeing too much there though it can't compare to the porn on the internet. All three of my kids have taken that trip and I believe it has served them well.

Answer 4

She's 12 and you want to teach her about STDs? How about teaching her that the marital act is for marriage. That ought to cover it all.

At 12, she is a CHILD. Getting graphic with her takes away some of that childhood. Remember that innocence lost is never regained. Unless you have reason to believe that she's in danger of being sexually active, I don't see the reasoning behind burdening her with adult knowledge.

Answer 5

Do NOT follow that liberal mode of "sex education." Convey to her to not have sex before marriage, and although you can mention those diseases at what happens to other buffoons, it shouldn't effect her.

Liberalism is a mental disorder and those sex ed classses need to be shut down.

I think that SockSpid has said it pretty well below, and the less you need to talk to her at age 12, the better.

Answer 6

Pictures, they scared the hell away from me! There are books on sexual education, it's very responsible of you to teach her that. At least then you know she won't get pregnant at 16 and get an abortion.

Answer 7

this might not help you at all but anytime I want to know anything about anything I google it! you can find anything and everything you need to know there! lol hope that helps!