Awkward Conversations Awkward Conversations Add video to playlist Create Playlist Norah Add Playlist puberty Add Playlist Relationships Add Playlist Relationships Add Playlist Gender/ AMAZE Add Playlist Sex Ed Add Playlist Safety skills Add Playlist Owen Add Playlist Physical Changes Add Playlist Grade 6 Health Add Playlist Scoops & Friends Add Playlist Kids Add Playlist Malory Add Playlist Malory Add Playlist Henry Add Playlist Henry Add Playlist LD Add Playlist DASH Add Playlist Health 5 Add Playlist Puberty Remove Playlist Daphne Remove Playlist Libby Add Playlist Safety on Internet Add Playlist Relationships/Bullying Add Playlist Relationships/upstander Add Playlist Red playlist Add Playlist health Add Playlist Puberty Remove Playlist What is sexuality Add Playlist First Add Playlist First Add Playlist First Add Playlist watch Remove Playlist watch Add Playlist watch Add Playlist Gender Identity Add Playlist Hygiene Add Playlist Talk Add Playlist Milly and Zoey Add Playlist Parents Add Playlist Boys Add Playlist Boys Add Playlist Pron is not education Add Playlist new Add Playlist Sexual Orientation Add Playlist Puberty Add Playlist LGBTQIA+ Add Playlist Sexual orientation Add Playlist S3 Anatomy Add Playlist מודל הדחק Add Playlist Internship Add Playlist Amaze Videos Remove Playlist puberty Add Playlist Emotional Changes Add Playlist Puberty Add Playlist Noah Add Playlist paper Add Playlist Intro Add Playlist Intro Remove Playlist Clair Add Playlist J Add Playlist Emotions Add Playlist Elijah Add Playlist zurri Add Playlist Interpersonal violence Add Playlist Sexual health Add Playlist Sexual identity and expression Add Playlist Gender identity and expression Add Playlist Puberty and adolescents sexual development Add Playlist Anatomy and physiology Add Playlist gender Add Playlist Gender Add Playlist Emica Add Playlist For Kennedy Remove Playlist TestWolfPlaylist Add Playlist Wes Add Playlist Owen Add Playlist Cassie Add Playlist Nico Add Playlist 4th grade Add Playlist Metodbankschecken Add Playlist Ryan Add Playlist Tedder 1 Add Playlist Sexual Education Add Playlist LGBTQ Stuff Add Playlist Ev Add Playlist sex ed Add Playlist puberty Add Playlist Dealing with the hard stuff Remove Playlist This is MY Body Add Playlist Sex Add Playlist Puberty Add Playlist 9th grade Add Playlist Silas’s Health and Phys Ed List 2021 Add Playlist Emmett’s Social Studies List Remove Playlist Jaidyn Remove Playlist Bray Add Playlist Sophia Add Playlist Jack Add Playlist Consent and healthy relationships Remove Playlist Awkward Conversations | Classroom Favorite Communication Anxiety Friends Self-esteem family listening School Ready This video acknowledges the awkwardness and excitement of learning about changing bodies, sexuality, gender, and reproductive organs. It encourages learning on your own with friends as well as with a parent/caregiver or trusted adult and cautions against relying solely on the internet, as there is a lot of misinformation. The video offers concrete advice on how to have awkward conversations with trusted adults. Youth Sometimes it can be awkward to ask a parent or trusted adult questions about puberty and sex. As uncomfortable as it may feel, remember that they were once your age and went through the same things you are going through. A parent or adult you trust can provide the support you deserve as you go through puberty. That’s why it is important for you to have at least one adult you trust and can talk with. Choose someone you think is a good listener and won’t be judgmental. Choose someone who will help you figure out what to do in a tough spot or help you process your feelings and thoughts. Look for someone you admire—someone you think you might like to grow up to be like one day. Ask yourself, Do I respect this person? Do I trust them? Will they take me seriously? Will they respect me and not judge me? Trusted adults can be your parents, grandparents, other relatives, caregivers, teachers or coaches. Even your friends’ parents can provide advice, answer difficult questions, share their values and/or faith traditions and help you as you grow into an adult. Regardless of who a trusted adult is to you, what matters is that this person provide the support you need and deserve. FAQs I am so embarrassed to talk with my parents about this stuff. What can I do? It is totally normal to feel embarrassed to talk about these topics with your parents, especially if your family has never talked about puberty and growing up. However, it is important to remember that adults were your age at one point in their lives, and they have a lot of experience with these topics. You may be surprised how open and willing they are to talk. If you still don’t feel like you can talk to a parent, you can identify another adult that you trust to have these conversations with. This might be another relative, a teacher, a coach, a guidance counselor or even a friend’s parent. My mom wants to talk about this stuff with me all the time, and I am just so embarrassed. What can I do? It is totally normal to feel embarrassed to talk about these topics with your parents. Most likely, your mom just wants to show you that she supports you and that you can talk to her if you have questions. If you feel like she is being too pushy or overbearing, just let her know that you aren’t ready to talk about these topics right now, but if and when you are ready, you understand that she is there for you. RELATED VIDEOS How to Be a Good Listener Conversations to Have with an Adult: Puberty, Emotions and more! Active Listening: How To Communicate Effectively How to Talk to Girls, Boys and Everyone in Between Close Close Close Close ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Sex, Etc. KidsHealth Parents Adolescence can be an exciting and challenging time when both young people’s bodies and minds are going through lots of changes. Having at least one trusted adult they can talk to about sensitive topics, such as puberty, their feelings and growing up, really helps. Trusted adults can be parents, grandparents, other relatives, caregivers, teachers or coaches. Even a young person’s friends’ parents can provide advice, answer difficult questions, share their values and/or faith traditions. Regardless of who a trusted adult is, what matters is that this person provide the support a young person needs and deserves. This is especially true for young people facing additional physical, emotional or social challenges. Young people can feel awkward and nervous about talking with adults, especially if they know adults are going to judge or lecture them. While an adult may want to do all of the talking and tell a young person how to feel and what to think, this is a sure way to have a young person withdraw. An adult who listens to what young people have to say and respects their experiences and perspectives will earn their trust. If a young person does not feel judged, that young person is more likely to be honest with an adult and seek out help if they get into trouble, feel uncomfortable at a party or need help handling a tough situation. CONVERSATION STARTERS Effective communication is the foundation of healthy relationships, and this is true for relationships between young people and their parents, caregivers or other trusted adults. As a parent or trusted adult, you can help your child or another young person practice good communication skills by demonstrating healthy communication skills in your conversations with them and being a supportive listener when a young person needs help. The easiest way to start conversations about communication is to talk about it as it comes up in everyday life, like while watching a show or movie together. Here are some ways to start these conversations: Discussion Questions If you are watching a show or movie where a young person and a trusted adult are displaying positive communication... If you are watching a show or movie where a young person and a trusted adult are displaying positive communication and a safe and supportive relationship, you can ask your child whether they feel like they have that type of relationship with you or another trusted adult. If you notice that your child is having a bad day or feeling down... If you notice that your child is having a bad day or feeling down, remind them that you are there for them if and when they feel ready to talk about what is going on. This opens the door to communication and shows that you are available and willing to be a good listener. Educators Adolescence can be an exciting and challenging time when both young people’s bodies and minds are going through lots of changes. Having at least one trusted adult they can talk to about sensitive topics, such as puberty, their feelings and growing up, really helps. Trusted adults can be parents, grandparents, other relatives, caregivers, teachers or coaches. Even a young person’s friends’ parents can provide advice, answer difficult questions, share their values and/or faith traditions. Regardless of who a trusted adult is, what matters is that this person provide the support a young person needs and deserves. This is especially true for young people facing additional physical, emotional or social challenges. Young people can feel awkward and nervous about talking with adults, especially if they know adults are going to judge or lecture them. While an adult may want to do all of the talking and tell a young person how to feel and what to think, this is a sure way to have a young person withdraw. An adult who listens to what young people have to say and respects their experiences and perspectives will earn their trust. If a young person does not feel judged, that young person is more likely to be honest with an adult and seek out help if they get into trouble, feel uncomfortable at a party or need help thinking through how to handle a tough situation. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS National Sex Education Standards PD.5.AI.2 - Trusted Adults, Including Parents, Caregivers, and Health Care Professionals Identify trusted adults, including parents, caregivers, and health care professionals, whom students can ask questions about puberty and adolescent health View all PD.5.AI.2 Videos SO.12.INF.1 - Support from Peers, Families, Schools, and Communities Explain how support from peers, families, schools, and communities can improve a person’s health and wellbeing as it relates to sexual orientation and sexual identity View all SO.12.INF.1 Videos Additional Resources Advocates for Youth Answer Planned Parenthood SIECUS YTH Lesson Plans 8th Grade—Lesson 2: The World Around Me When I Was A Teenager Like Mother Like Son? Breaking The Ice Books Talk to Me First: Everything You Need to Know to Become Your Kids’ "Go-To" Person About Sex Deborah Roffman