As parents we need to be on the front foot in teaching our children about sex in a timely and age-appropriate way if we want them to appreciate sex as a wonderful gift from God according to His purposes and plans. This will also include topics such a pornography, protective behaviours and society’s non-biblical view on gender. Here are some resources that can help.
Many are designed to be read with children but always read them first and if you have any concerns talk to someone you trust.
We live in a society where our children are exposed to powerful negative messages about body image and physical appearance from an early age. This picture book, set in a zoo, can help parents give their children a Christian perspective on these topics in light of the beauty of God’s creation. This book includes helpful tips for parents on addressing these issues with their children.
This picture book provides parents with an excellent tool to help them talk to their children about gender and gender identity. It shows how our gender is a gift from God who made and loves us, it encourages us not to stereotype what boys and girls do, and finally encourages us to love people who might be confused about their gender. The book has some tips for parents to help them discuss these issues with their children.
This book is written to help parents talk to children from an early age about protective behaviours in relation to themselves and their bodies, giving kids ‘accurate, age-appropriate information about child sexual abuse and the confidence that their parents and care givers will support them.’ The two pages of advice to parents at the end of the book are particularly helpful. Written to be read with children aged 2-8 years.
Pornography is never going to be an easy topic but it is an important one to discuss with our children from an early age. Emily Olivia is a Christian mother who wrote this book to help her talk to her two young daughters. It clearly and sensitively teaches what pornography is, why it is harmful and what children can do when they see it.
Abuse and protective behaviours is another difficult but important topic. This book uses rhyme to gently teach and empower children to protect their body and their privacy.
This book is written to be read with even young children “providing the facts of life with frankness and humour” in the context of God’s loving plan of marriage. A gentle way to introduce children to the topic.
Sex therapist and doctor Patricia Weerakoon has written these three books to facilitate honest, helpful and biblical discussion between parents and their teenagers on this topic. Talking Sex is written as a parent guide, whereas Growing Up by the Book and Teen Sex by the Book are designed to be read and discussed by both parents and teenagers.
The books are frank, detailed and quite confronting (Teen Sexhas a 15+ rating) – but that is their strength. More importantly as a Christian parent Weerakoon helps readers put the information about sex into the context of God’s purpose and plan for us as sexual creatures living in the way He intended
Me and My Family / Me and My Body / Me and My Brain / Learning About Sex / Learning About Gender / Learning About Pornography - a series of six books by Christian doctor Patricia Weerakoon that address not just the facts of life but related topics such as thinking about gender, pornography and protective behaviours. The books are written and illustrated to be read with children.
Most of these are available to borrow from our Family Resources Collection at church.