The Talk: Sex Ed 2.0
After-school workshops for kids that provide age-appropriate info, meaningful practice with essential social-emotional skills, and an opportunity to connect with peers. Rachel Lotus’s progressive curriculum embraces a broader understanding of sexuality education, going far beyond the basics of traditional sex ed, and reflects the realities of today’s world. The Talk also offers support to parents on a range […]
It’s So Amazing! by Robie Harris, illustrations by Michael Emberley (ages 7 and up)
How does a baby begin? What makes a baby male or female? How is a baby born? Children have plenty of questions about reproduction and babies—and about sex and sexuality, too. It’s So Amazing! provides the answers—with fun, accurate, comic-book-style artwork and a clear, lively text that reflects the interests of children age seven and […]
It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris, illustrations by Michael Emberley (ages 10 and up)
A great resource for tweens, teens, parents, teachers, librarians with accurate and up-to-date answers to nearly every imaginable question, from conception and puberty to birth control and STDs, It’s Perfectly Normal offers young people the information they need to make responsible decisions and stay healthy.
AMAZE.org (ages 9-16)
Videos galore on a range of sexuality-related subjects. AMAZE.org a collaboration of several highly regarded organizations, including Advocates for Youth and Answer. Not every video is appropriate for every age, so they tag each with an age guide to help steer parents and educators.
Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg (ages 8 and up)
Full of eye-catching graphics and simple text, this wonderful book is inclusive and far-reaching, drawing readers in by exploring bodies, gender, safety, and sexuality. Not terribly graphic, it deals with sexuality as an expansive concept, while still providing plenty of thought-provoking conversation starters. It’s a book an older child can explore independently, but works even […]
Consent: It’s as Simple as Tea (ages 11 and up)
This funny viral video uses various tea-based scenarios to illustrate the nuances of consent for tweens and teens. Somewhat reductive in its metaphor, it is nevertheless amusing and relatable to most adolescents. Great way to start a conversation about the more unsettling aspects of sexual consent.
Girls and Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape by Peggy Orenstein
This best-selling book by award-winning journalist Peggy Orenstein sheds a somewhat disturbing light on female sexuality in the modern age. But that’s not all, she also makes the case for fearless comprehensive sex education. Though the author profiles older subjects, it’s worth a read, since the bulk of conditioning and attitude-shaping happens in the early […]
“What Young Girls Think About Their Own Sexual Pleasure,” Ted Talk by Peggy Orenstein
Why do girls feel empowered to engage in sexual activity but not to enjoy it? For three years, author Peggy Orenstein interviewed girls ages 15 to 20 about their attitudes toward and experiences of sex. She discusses the pleasure that’s largely missing from their sexual encounters and calls on us to close the “orgasm gap” […]
“How to Teach Consent to Kids in 5 Simple Steps” by Michelle Dominique Burk, Everyday Feminism
A few rules you can discuss with kids that can help them understand the basics of consent and help them react appropriately when faced with new situations
“Sex Education that Goes Beyond Sex” by Grace Tatter, Harvard School of Education
Why schools and families need to talk about relationships, caring, and consent as part of a comprehensive approach to sex ed