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For Parents of Teens and Preteens

Birds & Bees TalkStarter: The Kavanaugh Accusations

September 18, 2018 by Jill Whitney Leave a Comment

Whatever your views on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court and the recent accusations against him, one thing is certain: It’s an excellent opportunity for a conversation with your teen about sex and consent. Some teens may be aware of the headlines; others may be oblivious. If your teen hasn’t mentioned anything […]

Filed Under: Featured, For Parents of Teens and Preteens Tagged With: consent, date rape, Kavanaugh, parenting, sex ed, sexuality, teens

It’s a Great Day for the Birds & the Bees

September 4, 2018 by Jill Whitney Leave a Comment

No matter the age of your child, today is a terrific day to take one small step toward the quality of their eventual sex life. (Which, yes, someday they will actually have….) It’s World Sexual Health Day—so go for it! Here are some easy ways to get the birds and the bees convo started (or […]

Filed Under: Featured, For Parents of Teens and Preteens, For Parents of Young Children Tagged With: #WorldSexualHealthDay, kids, parenting, preteens, sex ed, teen sex

“What If I Get My Period at School?”

August 21, 2018 by Jill Whitney Leave a Comment

Going back to school can trigger a lot of anxieties in teens and tweens: worries about social dynamics, finding classrooms, and how demanding teachers will be. If your kid is a daughter, she may also be worried about something more intimate: the horrible possibility that she might get her period at school and not know […]

Filed Under: Featured, For Parents of Teens and Preteens Tagged With: daughters, menstruation, periods, puberty

If Your Body Is Aroused, Does that Mean You Consent?

August 7, 2018 by Jill Whitney 2 Comments

Consent is a complex topic. In theory, it’s easy: No means No and Yes means Yes. In reality, things can be murkier. Minds can change; someone can think a partner’s mind has changed when it hasn’t; there may be mixed signals. One way signals can be mixed is when a person’s body is aroused but […]

Filed Under: Everyone, Featured, For Parents of Teens and Preteens Tagged With: arousal, consent, sexuality

What’s the Right Age to Have Sex for the First Time?

June 12, 2018 by Jill Whitney Leave a Comment

A lot of people worry that they’re out of step with what’s “right” or “normal” if they don’t do certain sexual things by certain ages. You may think you should “lose your virginity” by a specific age or there’s something wrong with you. (More later on why I put that in quotes.) You may visualize some […]

Filed Under: Everyone, Featured, For Parents of Teens and Preteens Tagged With: sexual agency, sexuality, teen sexuality, teenagers, virginity

Mentioning the “M Word” to Your Kids

May 29, 2018 by Jill Whitney Leave a Comment

So, I can’t believe I almost missed International Masturbation Month. But there’s still time for me to write this post—and for you to use the word in front of your kids.* It’s not as difficult as you might think! (*And, of course, there’s no deadline. This is just an easy way to bring up the […]

Filed Under: Featured, For Parents of Teens and Preteens, For Parents of Young Children Tagged With: kids, masturbation, parenting, preteens sex ed, sexuality, teens

When Your Kid Says “Don’t Tell Dad”

May 1, 2018 by Jill Whitney Leave a Comment

As much as possible, it’s helpful for parents to work as a team on the birds and the bees (and everything else). Kids benefit from knowing the views of both parents and from being able to ask questions of whomever happens to be around at the moment. I know, that’s not the way it goes […]

Filed Under: Featured, For Parents of Teens and Preteens Tagged With: parenting, preteens, privacy, sex ed, teens

How Compliant Should Your Child Be?

April 17, 2018 by Jill Whitney Leave a Comment

When your 3-year-old won’t get dressed in the morning or your 6-year-old refuses to eat anything but chicken nuggets, you may long for compliance. You want a child who cooperates, who listens to parental wisdom without endless arguing, who just does what you say, dang it. Because you want what’s best for your child and […]

Filed Under: Featured, For Parents of Teens and Preteens, For Parents of Young Children Tagged With: parenting. kids, teen sexuality

Raising Decent Kids in the #MeToo Era

March 20, 2018 by Jill Whitney Leave a Comment

You’re trying to raise your kids to be good people. You want them to respect themselves and others. You want them to be responsible, including about relationships and, when the time comes, sex. That was hard enough before; since #MeToo aimed a spotlight on sexual harassment and assault, you may be even more concerned about […]

Filed Under: Featured, For Parents of Teens and Preteens, For Parents of Young Children Tagged With: #MeToo, kids, parenting, power, sex, sexul harrassment, teen sexuality, teens, values

The Under-Appreciated Joys of Anticipation

March 6, 2018 by Jill Whitney Leave a Comment

We live in a world of immediate gratification. We want to watch the next episode now, we want our package delivered today, we get antsy if we have to wait in line for more than a few seconds. I understand the feeling; there’s always so much to do that waiting can feel like a waste. […]

Filed Under: Everyone, Featured, For Parents of Teens and Preteens Tagged With: couples, dating, relationships, sex, teen dating

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With Birds & Bees, Questions Matter as Much as Answers

With Birds & Bees, Questions Matter as Much as Answers

Hey, Parents: Having a Good Sex Life Is Good for Your Kids

Hey, Parents: Having a Good Sex Life Is Good for Your Kids

Casual Sex: Is It Right for You?

Casual Sex: Is It Right for You?

What Happens on the Bus Shouldn’t Stay on the Bus

What Happens on the Bus Shouldn’t Stay on the Bus

Two Secrets to Successful Resolutions

Two Secrets to Successful Resolutions

Can You Be a Feminist and an At-Home Mom?

Can You Be a Feminist and an At-Home Mom?

TalkStarter for Teens: What Was Hard for You as a Teen

TalkStarter for Teens: What Was Hard for You as a Teen

Men, Women, & Self-Pleasuring

Men, Women, & Self-Pleasuring

Ghosting, Other Dating Trends, and Humans

Ghosting, Other Dating Trends, and Humans

Why Are Gender Pronouns Changing?

Why Are Gender Pronouns Changing?

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About the Author

Jill Whitney is a licensed marriage and family therapist dedicated to improving communication about relationships, sexuality, and intimacy. Learn more about her and her practice at Green Tree Professional Counseling.

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