There are two ways to look at it, you can openly talk to your child and be the one educating them about STDs and sex or pretend that they are never going to have sex. Of course we want them to remain pure and innocent, but it is something in life that we all think about and eventually doing.

Just being open and talking to your child may be uncomfortable for the both of you, but it is important to give them a healthy look at sex and let them get the facts from someone that they trust instead of their peers.

Practice what you will say with your spouse or just in front of a mirror so you are more confident with what you are going to say. Listen to what your child says and be patient if they are not taking. It may take them awhile to get the courage to ask questions.

Make sure you give them an educated talk and don't just cover the basics. Let them know what may put them at risk and know how to handle themselves in any situation. You can get so much help from the internet if you are not certain yourself. Don't be afraid to bring your child to the computer if you don't know something. Letting them learn with you will give them the knowledge to care for themselves.

Be honest with your child, of course keep your talk age appropriate and be approachable if they have questions in the future. Teaching them the facts that they need to know will not encourage them to become sexually active. Rather it will give them the knowledge that they need and let them know how to protect themselves.

We can not be with our children all day every day. So educating them and trusting them to make the correct choices is all we can do. Setting up your child with knowledge is the best thing that we can do for them. Protect our children, they are our future!

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