Let’s Talk

Objective:

• To get students and parents talking about dating, relationships, and sex.

Materials:

• A list of questions that students would like to ask their parents
• The list can be developed as a class, by each student individually, or you can use our suggestions

Steps:

Prepare students -

• Talk with students about how they feel about talking with their parents about sex
• Are they more comfortable with one parent than the other?
• If any student feels they cannot go to their parent, encourage them to complete the assignment with another trusted adult; a grandparent, aunt, uncle, older sibling, mentor, or coach could work

Start Talking-

• Instruct students to find a quiet, relaxed time to talk with their parent
• Encourage students to have an honest discussion with parents about the dating, relationships, and sex
• Remind students that parents will probably have questions of their own and they should be ready to answer them
• Have students explain the interview rules

The Rules- feel free to add your own rules

1. No lectures
2. Listen openly
3. Speak honestly
4. If it’s too personal, say so

Do the interview, have students right down their parents’ responsesWhat surprised you?

• What was the hardest thing to talk about?
• Do you wish you asked anything else?
• How did you feel about the conversation?
• Why do you think the conversation was difficult, awkward?
• What would have made it easier?
• Do you think you could talk to your parents about this stuff in the future? Will you?

Special Notes:

It’s ok to ask questions about things other than dating and relationships to get things started

Here are some suggestions for questions students might want to ask:

• When you were my age what kinds of music did you listen to?
• When you were my age could you talk to your parents about anything and everything?
• Were you allowed to date when you were my age? Did you?
• What was the greatest pressure on you when you were a teenager?
• Who taught you about sex and what did they say? Was it helpful information?
• Did you learn about dating and relationships in school? Who taught those classes? What did you learn?
• Do you worry about me? What kinds of things do you worry about? Why do you worry about that?

Remind students that parents like to know what’s going on with them so maybe they could share…

• What they are stressed about right now
• Drama that’s happening at school
• What’s going on with their friends