He was always concerned that his teenager would enjoy sex, and his doubts were confirmed when he found packets of condoms and birth control pills in his bedroom. How does a parent approach a teen and tell them about the need for safer sex? How does he warn them about the pitfalls of teen pregnancy? What is the best approach to inform them about sexually transmitted diseases?

Most teens tend to learn about sex from sources other than school and parents, and this leads them to have preconceived notions about it. As a parent, it is your duty to educate your child before he approaches his teens about sex, the need for safer sex, and the consequences of unprotected sex.

His immediate reaction when he finds out that his teenage son has been having sex behind his back is to scream and take out his anger. If this is the option you choose, you will only succeed in creating a rogue who will likely end up doing it more times than before.

Most parents are uncomfortable talking about sex even with adults, so the question of discussing things from the right perspective with their teens just doesn’t come up. It is those parents who are most surprised when they come to know that teen sex.

Talking about sex is not a one-time affair that you do on a particular day and then completely forget about it. Your teen may have many questions about sex that he deems appropriate, and it is his duty as a parent to answer all his questions in the language he understands and not to confuse them with the language of adults.

As a parent, you need to address the physical and emotional aspects of sex as you talk about it with your teen. Don’t indulge in a long lesson on what to do and what not to do.

Most teens are comfortable with either parent, and if your teen is a girl, you as a parent can talk to her about the pitfalls of unsafe sex and teen pregnancy. As a parent you could have a conversation with your child about sex and its consequences at an early age. Teenagers prefer to talk to their respective gender parents about sex, as the awkwardness is less.

You could also tell them about the various sexually transmitted diseases and the precautions to take about them.

If you come to know that they have indulged in sexual activity, then you need to make them realize the importance of love in a relationship and that sex is just one beautiful aspect of it. You will need to approach the whole thing in a mature way and inform them that there will be consequences of sex, which at such a young age they may not be able to properly understand.

It can also provide them with knowledge about AIDS and other deadly sexually transmitted diseases that could be life-threatening. Most teens succumb to peer pressure and your role as a parent is very important as it can give them the confidence to withstand and handle that pressure.

Sex and sexuality are beautiful aspects and you as an adult need to make sure that you provide your teens with the proper knowledge by communicating with them and removing any kind of misunderstandings that they may harbor about it.

In the book “Solving Adolescent Problems” several tips have been given to deal with adolescent sex education. The book also provides several communication models for having difficult conversations with teens so that you can structure your conversation for optimal results.