Need You Now

Learning Objectives

This lesson is designed to encourage youth-initiated communication between youth and their parents or guardians about sexuality, values, puberty and other issues that affect them.

Background

Studies have been done to demonstrate the importance of parent-child communication. For example:

  • The more comprehensive the message and the more sexuality related topics a mother discussed with her adolescent, the less sexual risk behaviors the teen exhibited. (Source: Journal of Adolescent Health, 2002).
  • Open and respectful discussions about sexual risk behaviors between mothers and adolescents delayed their involvement in sexual intercourse. (Source: Journal of Adolescent Health, 2002).
  • Adolescents that did not discuss sexuality or condoms with their mothers were more likely to have similar behaviors as their peers compared to adolescents who did discuss these issues with their mothers. This may cause a problem if peers do not value responsible behavior or if they do not have similar values as their mothers. (Source: CDC, Oct. 1998).
  • Teens who had discussed drugs and had anti-drug conversations with their parents were 42% less likely to be using drugs. (Source: Partnership for a Drug Free America).

Activity One: Communication Discussion – 10 minutes

Ask students to define “communication.”. Write the definition for communication on the board. Communication: is a process by which information is exchanged by individuals (Source: Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary).

Discussion

  1. Why do we need to communicate in our daily lives?
  2. What happens if we don’t communicate with people about what we want and what they want? Give examples of how trouble can arise when there is a lack of communication.
  3. Who are the people in your lives to whom it is important to communicate and explain why?

Activity Two: Parental/Guardian Discussion – 10 minutes

Explain to the students that this class will specifically address the importance of communicating with their parents or guardians about sexuality. Discuss the following points with the students:

Communicating with parents or guardians is valuable because:

  • They have gone through the stages you are now going through.
  • They care about you and can help you make good decisions.
  • You can understand their values, beliefs and morals.
  • You can learn what they expect of you.
  • They will always love you no matter what you do.
  • Ask students to think of other reasons.

Allow students to work in a group to discuss the following questions:

  1. Why is it beneficial for you to see teens asking parents for help?
  2. Would you ever ask your parents or guardians any of questions about sex? Why or why not?
  3. Would you like to be able to talk openly to your parents or guardians about stuff like this?
    • Gives you examples of how to initiate communication and then you can model your behavior.
    • Not only parents are responsible for initiating “the talk.”
    • Sometimes adults are more inhibited than teens about sensitive topics.
    • If parents see this on TV, they may realize that their teen needs them.
    • See that you are not the only one that wants to talk with your parents about these issues.

Come together as a class to discuss the answers.