Talk about sex and, sometimes, parents get weird.

DON’T WANT TO GET WEIRD?

Parents can and should play an important role in the sexuality education of their children. Studies show, time and again, that children want to learn about sex from their parents.

One way you can become a trusted advisor to your kids is by helping them find information about sexuality issues that you yourself may not know that much about. Another might be helping your teenager connect with the sexual health services they need now or may need in the future. Like the services posted on WONTGETWEIRD.COM.

This page provides up-to-date information and resources that can help you help your kids make sexually healthy decisions.

WONTGETWEIRD provides web links, articles, resource lists, book reviews and information that will help parents become well informed about sexuality issues concerning youth.

Sexual and Reproductive Rights of Youth in Alberta: Information for Parents and Guardians

This resource informs parents and guardians how Alberta law addresses confidentiality and consent issues as they relate to youth under 18 and their access to sexual health information and services.

Want to help your teens make a fully informed decision about whether or not they are ready to have sex?

Check out the book review of All the Way: Sex for the First Time, a resource for parents and teens by Canadian sexuality educator, Kim Martyn. Read it first then pass it on to your child.

Are you an askable parent? Can your kids talk to you about sex?

Click on the following link and take the quiz to see if you are an askable parent. http://www.iwannaknow.org/parents/be_askable.html

Want more information on what parents can do to raise sexually healthy children?

Check out the Parents section of this site sponsored by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.
http://www.sexualityandu.ca/eng/parents/

Want to know about the sexual health curriculum taught in Alberta?

http://www.teachingsexualhealth.ca/parentstudent/pages/parents.html - a project of the Calgary Health Region and Alberta Health and Wellness

If you’re a parent interested in advocacy and policy as it relates to sexuality education, visit this American site:

www.siecus.org - Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S.

For help talking to your kids about sex and a whole range of other issues like HIV/AIDS, drugs, alcohol and violence, check out:

www.talkingwithkids.org - Children Now and the Kaiser Family Foundation

Here are some additional websites you may find of value:

http://www.ppfc.ca - Planned Parenthood Federation of Canada

www.canadian-health-network.ca - Public Health Agency of Canada

Books for parents that will get you talking about sexuality:

Sex & Sensibility, by Deborah M. Roffman, Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publishing, 2001

Ten Talks Parents Must Have With Their Children About Sex and Character, by Pepper Schwartz and Dominic Cappello, Hyperion, New York, 2000

From Diapers to Dating: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Sexually Healthy Children, From Infancy to Adolescence, by Deborah Haffner, Newmarket Press, New York, 1999

Keys To Your Child’s Healthy Sexuality, by Chrystal De Freitas, Hauppauge, New York, 1998

Books for parents to give to teens:

All the Way: Sex for the First Time, by Kim Martyn, Sumach Press, Toronto, 2003 (See book review above.)

Deal With It! by Ester Drill, Heather Mcdonald, Rebecca Odes, New York, NY: Pocket, 1999 (for young teen girls)

An Owner’s Manual: The Guy Book, by Mavis Jukes, Crown Publishers, New York, 2002

My Body, Myself For Boys, by Lynda Madaras and Area Madaras, Newmarket Press, New York, 2000

My Body, Myself For Girls, by Lynda Madaras and Area Madaras, Newmarket Press, New York, 2000