Talking to youth about sexual health makes a difference!

This interactive workshop for adults provides basic knowledge about sexual health topics and an opportunity to become more comfortable discussing sexual health topics with youth.

What participants have said.

What was the most valuable part?

• "Awareness of other parents concerns."
• "Positive outlook when communicating."
• "I loved the 'visualizing' and the 'How Fascinating' activity."

General Comments.

• "It was very good and very responsive to participants concerns."
• "It was all great and helpful."

45.6 percent of high school students (48.5 percent of males and 42.9 percent of females) reported having had sexual intercourse.

By the time they turn age 20, more than three-quarters of American young women and young men have had sexual intercourse.

Every year, 3 million teens--about 1 in 4 sexually active teens -- get a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

Young Americans between the ages of 13 and 24 are contracting HIV at the rate of 2 per hour.

According to Barbara Huberman, RN, MEd, Director of Education and Outreach for Advocates for Youth, parents who act on the belief that young people have the right to accurate sexuality information are parents whose teens will delay the initiation of intimacy and use contraceptives when they choose to become sexually active.

Seeing It!

Researchers wanted to know if there was a correlation between the messages kids hear and their behavior. What they found out was very eye-opening.

Messages like "don't jump on the bed" and "don't pull the cat's tail" led the kids to do just the opposite. They jumped on the bed and pulled the cat's tail.

Try this out with friends and family. Ask them to close their eyes and form an image of "kids not jumping on the bed" or "not pulling the cat's tail." Most people will form a picture of jumping on the bed or pulling the cat's tail.

The researchers discovered that words and concepts get translated into images in our brains. These images in our heads influence our behavior. If you think about it in our daily lives this makes sense. How many messages get misunderstood because you can't SEE the person talking? And if you email, you know how difficult it can get since you can't HEAR the person's tone as well. We rely heavily on sight and tone to create a richer message.

Unfortunately there is no image for DON'T or NOT.

How many messages do your teens get that include DON'T or NOT? Our minds simply drop the "don't."

• Don't drink and drive --> becomes an image of --> drinking and driving
• Don't have sex --> becomes an image of --> having sex
• Don't get pregnant --> becomes an image of -->
• Don't take drugs --> becomes an image of -->
• Don't stay out to late
• Don't quit school
• Don't hang out with those kids

Make sure you are helping your teens create images you want them to act on!

• Drive safely
• Respect your body
• Eat foods that nourish your body
• I need you to act responsibly

This may take some practice. You may want to brainstorm some messages/responses. Practice with other adults first.

If you say a sentence with a don't or not then immediately restate the sentence without the don't or not.