For Parents

Parents provide a child with their first exposure to values and attitudes regarding sex and sexuality. Children begin learning about sex from their parents long before the first conversation on the topic ever occurs. They learn from what we do, what we don't do, what we say to each other and what we say to others.

As our children grow older, they hear messages and values about sex from many other sources. In today's society, young people are bombarded with messages about sex from advertising, tv programs, popular music, film and magazines and the internet. New information and messages also come from other adults and other kids. Our children need help to sort through all these messages. They want and need the facts from people they trust.

To be the best sex educators possible, parents need to be informed themselves. We need to become "askable parents" so our children trust us enough to ask questions. We need to teach them to make responsible decisions by providing them with choices and alternatives, whenever possible; by respecting the choices they make; and by helping them learn from the consequences of their decisions.

UHPP Has Resources to Help
For many parents, it is uncomfortable to talk about sex-especially with our children. We may not even know how to begin. Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood can help! The UHPP Education Department and the UHPP libraries offer a wide range of resources to help parents talk to their kids about sex and sexuality issues. Below are some of our most popular resources. But always feel free to call our main Education office in Albany at 434-5667 x 137 for personal assistance. You can also email us for more information.

Workshops for Parents
UHPP offers educational workshops designed to assist parent-child communication around sexual health and responsibility. Workshops for parent groups and for parent-child groups can be arranged by calling 434-5678 x137 or by sending us an email.

UHPP Library Resources
The Rosamund Plowden-Wardlaw Library is located at the UHPP Albany Health Center on Lark Street. The library also has satellite locations in each of our three other health centers. Each satellite has a range of resources that are designed to help parents find comfortable ways to talk about sex and sexuality with thie children. Library resources include parent guides such as the age-specific parent tip sheets called "Talking to Your Kids About Sex." We also offer books and videos for loan or purchase. The UHPP library is open to the public by appointment only. Please call 434-5677 x 137 or email us for appointment information.

Videos and Curriculum
Can We Talk (Helping Families talk about Self Esteem, Sex and Peer Pressure) 
Living with a 10-15 Year Old; A Parent Education Curriculum

Fact sheets
Kids Need-to-Know Series (age three through grade 12); An age-appropriate guide for helping parents talk to their children about the issues of sex and sexuality.
National Family Sexuality Education Month (NFSEM)

Pamphlets
A Parent's Guide to Sexuality Education
Birth Control: Talking with Your Daughter
Birth Control: Talking with Your Son
Encouraging Abstinence: 10 Tips for Parents
How to Talk to Your Child About Sexuality
Our Children's Self-Esteem
Sex: Talking to Your Child
Sexual Responsibility: Talking with Your Teen

Books
Between Father and Child
Beyond the Big Talk
Childhood
Crying Baby, Sleepless Nights
Emotional Problems of Adolescents
Everything You Never Wanted Your Kid to Know About Sex; (but were afraid they'd ask)
From Diapers to Dating
How to Parent
How To Survive Your Adolescent's Adolescence
How to Talk to Your Child About Sexuality
Ourselves, Our Children
The Second 12 Months of Life
Spock on Spock
Teach Your Child Decision Making
What Teenagers Want To Know About Sex
Who To Call- Parent Resource Book