Meghan Markel, the Duchess of Sussex, talks openly about her miscarriage, and in doing so, reminds us all that talking about life’s sorrows is a really important part of the healing process. When we don’t connect with others over our grief and loss, embarrassment, guilt and shame take over our narratives. How do we use our own adult experiences to help kids not shoulder their own feelings of guilt and shame?
Read MoreSex Ed should be about youth getting the information and skills they need before they engage in sexual activity. Knowing who you are, your values and beliefs, understanding what you like and don’t like and being able to communicate that, and showing respect and compassion for others is what should be at the heart of sex education. There is not magic ticket to getting here - it takes practice over time.
Read MoreIntersex conditions are not talked about a whole lot, but we can change that. Intersex Awareness Day gives us time to pause and celebrate the wondrous diversity of the human body.
Read MoreA successfully cloned Przewalski horse is great fodder (feed?) for a conversation about all the different things we can do to with cells to create offspring. Start with a conversation about what cells are and how they work, move into an explanation about how sperm and egg cells create the next generation, and then start a chat about cloning. If your kid is a Star Wars fan, you can bring Jango Fett into the discussion!
Read MoreJoe Biden and Kamala Harris have something in common with Donald Trump. They all have blended families! Some of the adults had kids from a previous relationship, and these kids now have step-parents and some have step-siblings! When we honor all different kinds of families, we honor all children, which gives them a solid foundation from which to grow.
Read MoreTalking to youth about how COVID is passed, how it’s not passed, and what we can do to prevent from getting COVID, is a great primer for chatting about sexually transmitted infections.
Read MoreDutch TV lets kids stare down naked human bodies of all shapes and sizes. The show’s aim is to help kids develop a positive, healthy attitude towards the naked body. What do you think of this approach?
Read MoreA coming of age movie - about an eleven year-old, trying to figure out who she is and what she believes in, amidst pressures from friends, family, classmates, culture, and religion - gets in the crosshairs of conservative politicians and the DOJ. Whether you loved or hated the movie (or something in between), it serves as a great conversation starter for the whole family.
Read MoreWhen we are faced with a bully, frightened of uncertainty, confused by the world around us, and overwhelmed by feelings of loneliness - perhaps donning a superhero costume (real or imaginary) can give us the strength and fortitude we need. Maybe Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s black robe and frilly collar were just that - helping her overcoming adversity, road blocks and her own insecurities so she could continue to fight for justice for all.
Read MoreRuth Bader Ginsberg’s life celebrated quality; she didn’t just fight for one person over another or one cause over another. She fought for equal rights for all people. Hw do we teach about her legacy and how will her legacy be carried out going forward?
Read MoreSex education used to be all about our body parts and how they work to create a baby and spread sexually transmitted infections. Over the past few years, we’ve moved to comprehensive sexuality education, which includes a broader range of topics. But, when we do talk about human reproduction? We are still stuck in the dark ages. With the help of donors, surrogates, frozen gametes, insemination and IVF, there are lots of ways to make babies and create family.
Read MoreSex Ed isn’t really about sex. It’s about our relationships with ourselves and others. Sure, relationships might have a little bit to do with sex (when you are old enough to make those decisions), but for most youth learning about sex education, sex is only one part of a much larger conversation. So why do we doom the chances of even having the discussion by keeping the word sex in the title?
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