It's more important than ever that we teach both our boys and girls about the necessity of sexual consent. We can talk with our kids about relationships and consent through consistent smaller conversations, which makes these conversations easier in the long run. This page is here to provide you with resources and tools to help you become informed about the issues facing youth today, and to equip you with the resources you need to support your children as they strive to develop healthy relationships. For instructions to view this website in Spanish, click on en Español.

Families Connected Parent Resources

Featured video - parenting sexual consent awareness

 

Jennifer Elledge (Barber), MPH, CHES, shares helpful sexual consent awareness advice for parents and guardians to help guide their children.

 
 

Expert/parent blog and parenting tips

 

Parenting tips

  • Our kids are savvy. Most kids today have access to the world in the palm of their hands. Through their devices, an overwhelming amount of information and images come at them on a daily basis, and the culture around how they connect is completely different than what we experienced. Keeping that in mind, own what you don’t know. Consider starting with, “I’m curious about what it’s like in the dating world right now?”

  • About those images coming at them, a high percentage of teens are getting a lot of their sex education and concepts of relationships from online porn, even before they’ve had their first kiss or first conversation with a parent or educator. This adds both a huge layer of complexity and urgency to the importance of these conversations. Unfortunately, our kids can’t “unsee” what they’ve been exposed to, but we can help them understand that what is depicted in porn does not represent heathy sexual relationships, or what either party actually wants.

  • Teens highly value their independence. Before sharing your insight/ knowledge with them, ask permission. In practical terms, this might be saying, “Hey, I found this interesting video called “Tea Consent” (see videos below). Do you want to take a look at it?”

  • If your teen says “nope”, don’t press it, and don’t get discouraged. We often strengthen our connections with young people when we find ways to honor their autonomy.

  • Come from a place of compassion and remember that we are hard-wired to seek romantic relationships and connection. Be sure to acknowledge that reality and not shame your kid. This will help open the door to future conversations. Little conversations starting early are the way to go. This topic, like most, can’t be tackled in one BIG TALK, or the “Birds and the Bees” lecture. It’s a process.

 

Related resources for parents and guardians

 

Resources for teens

Curated Gallery of Resources

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Talking tips for parents

 

We have the power and obligation to change the current rape culture to a consent culture. It's important to understand the basic concept of "consent" and practice it well before arriving at college. It's our job, as parents, to keep our children healthy and safe and it starts by talking to them "Day 1".

 
 

Two videos to consider sharing with your teens

 

Copyright ©2015 Emmeline May and Blue Seat Studios Non-commercial use: Video must have copyright information displayed below video, with a live link to original. No alteration to the video may be made, other than translation. Commercial use: Contact hello@blueseatstudios.com for licensing. Script - Rockstar Dinosaur Pirate Princess ...

 
 

Recommended articles and education image

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Consent education and tools that you can use 

It’s On Us is a national movement to end sexual assault. The campaign was launched following recommendations from the White House Task Force to Prevent Sexual Assault that noted the importance of engaging everyone in the conversation to end sexual violence. Tools for parents and youth: A Sexual Consent Discussion Guide and Bystander Intervention Tips.

Recommended Blogs

A popular speaker in the South Bay, Jennifer Elledge (Barber) has taught thousands of parents and young people the importance of being sexually healthy. She is the Founder of The Talk Institute. Below are links to some of her online blogs.

For More Youth Wellness Resources, Visit:

 

For South Bay parents and caregivers

Go to South Bay Families Connected for educational events, the Virtual Teen Center, the SBFC monthly parent e-newsletter, and more.

 

For parents and caregivers in the U.S.A.

Visit the Families Connected landing page for non-region-specific, free youth wellness online resources.