New Directions in Facilitating the Teaching Role of Parents in the Sex Education of Their Children.

N

8

Teachers; Practitioners

Adolescent Development; Adolescents; Adult Education; Anatomy; Birth; Communication Skills; Curriculum; Dating (Social); Decision Making; Family Programs; Hygiene; Parent Child Relationship; Parent Participation; Physiology; Postsecondary Education; Preadolescents; Pregnancy; Program Effectiveness; Program Implementation; Reproduction (Biology); Sex Education; Values

A family-oriented sex education course was developed for parents to take together with their children. The program, which is designed for young people between the ages of 9 and 17, is offered in separate sections for the following groups: mothers and their 9- to 12-year-old daughters, mothers and their 13- to 17-year-old daughters, fathers and their 9- to 12-year-old sons, and fathers and their 13- to 17-year-old sons. Five 2 hour sessions were provided for the younger group and six 2-hour sessions were provided for the older group. Through minilectures, films, discussions, activities, and games, the following topics were addressed: reproduction anatomy and physiology, body changes during puberty and adolescence, health and hygiene, pregnancy and childbirth, values and feelings, dating, and decision-making and communication skills. The program has been implemented successfully in various communities in the St. Louis and northwest Missouri area and has been featured in a documentary made for educational television and on a national prime-time news show. (MN)

1985

ED253646