News and Stories: October is "Let's Talk" Month

Each year, October is designated as "Let’s Talk" month, and the focus is on making parents aware of the importance of talking with their young people about sexuality.

If you’re like a lot of parents, you might be thinking, “I’m glad I don’t have to deal with that yet – my child is way too young,” or "If I don't talk about 'it,' they won't get any ideas." Many parents still believe that talking about and dealing with sexuality is only important during adolescent years, if at all.

Sexuality is something that is an important part of our lives for as long as we live. It encompasses our bodies and how we feel about them and what they can do; our relationships with friends, family, teammates or others; our identity as sexual people; reproduction and how we take care of our reproductive health; and media – how sexuality can be used to influence what we feel and think as well as how we act.

A recent poll shows that while more parents are talking with their children about sexuality, they may be leaving important information about tougher issues out of the mix. Research has also shown that when young people have parents who talk openly and honestly about sexuality, they delay starting sexual behaviors and they protect themselves if they are in sexual relationships.

At Planned Parenthood, we encourage parents to start the conversation about sexuality early and keep it going throughout childhood and adolescence. Young people often seek out information from friends, who may have inaccurate information, when they don’t have the opportunity to talk comfortably with parents or other caring adults. When that happens, risks of pregnancy, STIs and unhealthy relationships increase.

In partnership with the Asante Children’s Theatre, Planned Parenthood of Indiana created a series of webisodes that demonstrate what can happen when parents and youth don’t tackle those tough issues. Take a look as we release them over the next few weeks. Take this opportunity to consider the messages you want to pass along to your young people, or you may want to watch the episodes with your adolescents and use it as an opportunity to discuss some of the issues that arise.

If you’ve already started the conversation, great! Keep it going. If not, remember it’s never too late to say, "Let's talk." Your young people need and want this information from you.