How To Talk To Your Kids About Sex

Talking about this with your kids can be uncomfortable, but it’s not something you can afford to neglect. Two experts share how you can get the conversation started

The “birds and the bees” is a topic that most parents avoid as much as possible and a conversation most dread to have with their children. Sure, there may be ample amounts of information available on the Internet, but shockingly, it was revealed that many Malaysian youth have a poor understanding of sexual and reproductive health (SRH).

Hence, the #TalkNowProtectAlways SRH Awareness Campaign was developed by Durex Malaysia to address the SRH knowledge gaps that young Malaysians have by encouraging the SRH conversations between parents and their children – to develop a more accurate understanding of SRH among young Malaysians. Two experts, Professor Dr. Harlina Halizah Siraj, an Obstetrics and Gynaecology Consultant from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, as well as Zaid Mohamad, a Certified Parenting Coach, speak to The Weekly about having “the talk” with our kids.

 Why should parents talk to their kids about sex?

ZAID Being the primary caregiver, parents will be the best people to shape their children's understanding on sexual and reproductive health, which encompasses not only the topic of sex, but also other aspects including puberty, body image, consent, healthy relationships and respect.

DR HARLINA Teaching your child about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) from a young age will ensure that they are equipped with factually accurate information, which is absolutely crucial given that misconceptions about this are prevalent – as revealed in the Malaysian Youth SRH Survey in 2016. Additionally, this will also help to create and foster a stronger bond between you and your child, as you are encouraging a parent-child relationship that allows him or her to talk to you about anything and everything, even though it may feel awkward at the beginning.

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