IFRAME: //www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MC55KT Skip to main content Home Donate Search Menu Search form Search _______________ Search Donate * Home * About us + Our organisation + Our beliefs and values + Our history + Contact us + Work with us * What we do + Our work + Our services + Policy and lobbying + Research * What you can do + Fundraising and events + Make a donation + Volunteer to help children + Campaign for change + Corporate support and philanthropy + In your church * In your area * Shop + Our online shops + Our high street shops + Our eBay shop * News and blogs + Press releases + Media contact + Our blogs + Latest news * Donate + Make a donation + Where your money goes + Make a donation by cheque or postal order + Payroll giving + Gift of shares + Philanthropy * Home * About us * What we do * What you can do * In your area * Shop * News and blogs * Donate More three young people talking About us We are a national charity that works with the country's most vulnerable children and young people. We listen. We support. We act. Because no child should feel alone. About our organisation * Our organisation * Our beliefs and values * Our story * Our history * Our organisational policies * Contact us * Work with us * Our promise to supporters * Making a difference: Our impact 2018/19 * Our Senior Leadership Team * Our partnership with the Church * Our trustees a girl looking to the side We're supporting children and young people's mental health Young people's mental health a teenage girl looking through a doorway Help stop child sexual exploitation Help stop child sexual exploitation Mother and daughter looking at smartphone Complaints Complaints a boy smiling What we do We fight child poverty and neglect, and help all children have a better chance in life. What we do * Our work * Our services * Policy and lobbying * Commission us * Research * Resources and publications * Children's stories * The Good Childhood Report * Making a difference: Our impact 2018/19 * Access to records * Publications library a girl looking to the side We're supporting children and young people's mental health Young people's mental health a teenage girl looking through a doorway Help stop child sexual exploitation Help stop child sexual exploitation a man speaking with a young person What you can do Fundraise, donate, campaign, volunteer - we have many ways you can help children. What you can do * Fundraising and events * Make a donation * Volunteer to help children * Campaign for change * Corporate support * In your church * Challenge Events * Become a volunteer speaker or ambassador * Become a campaigner * Work with us * Celebrate Christingle a teenage girl looking through a doorway Help stop child sexual exploitation Help stop child sexual exploitation two teenage girls talking to one another Leaving a legacy - support our work Leaving a legacy - support our work a girl looking to the side We're supporting children and young people's mental health Young people's mental health a boy smiling Donate Your donation helps us continue to work with children to ensure that they are loved, valued and listened to. Make a donation * Make a donation * Where your money goes * Make a donation by cheque or postal order * Payroll giving * Gift of shares * Philanthropy * Our promise to our supporters * Our supporters remembered two girls hugging Make a donation Make a donation graph illustrating donations to the children s society Where your money goes Find out where your money goes two teenage girls talking to one another Leaving a legacy - support our work Leaving a legacy - support our work Two teenage boys sit and talk to each other News and blogs Children's voices and opinions are at the heart of our media, social media and blogs. The latest news and blogs * Press releases * Media contact * Our blogs * Latest news * Policy team blog * Our Facebook page * Our Twitter page * Write for our blog Female project worker smiling at young male Read our impact report Read our impact report map of England and Wales Visit our data blog Visit our data blog The interior of one of our shops Shop Buying from our online or high street shops is a great way to support our work Shop * Our online shops * Our high street shops * Our eBay shop * Browse our online resources in our shop * Learn about volunteering in our shops * Find your local shop on our map ebay logo Visit our eBay shop Visit our eBay shop a girl looking to the side We're supporting children and young people's mental health Young people's mental health You are here Home » What we do » How to discuss your child's sexuality with them How to discuss your child's sexuality with them Whether you think your child is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual or straight how you talk to them about sexuality is important Child discussing sexuality with parent A parent awkwardly having the ‘birds and the bees’ chat with their child encompasses how we, as a nation, see intergenerational conversations about sex and sexuality. Of course, not many young people want to go into detail about the intimacies of their sexual lives, not least with their parents, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Healthy conversation about sex and sexuality with your child can help them during their teenage years, when feelings around attraction begin to take an active role. As our Good Childhood Report showed this year, children and young people that are attracted to same or both genders are 50% more likely to self-harm. Whether your child is gay, bisexual, or heterosexual, it’s important to nurture a healthy attitude towards sex and sexuality, so that they have the confidence and information they need when navigating their future relationships. You may also need to be cautious about assuming that your child is sexually attracted to anyone or any gender. There are young people that feel asexual, and that is also perfectly normal. Be prepared If the day comes that your child asks for advice, you want to be prepared. You can equip yourself with some key knowledge and information so that you can be confident you’re giving sage advice. Parents across the country are quietly taking to their search engines for advice on how to talk to their child – whether it’s their daughter being gay or their son hitting puberty – join them! The internet is a great source of information, and there are plenty of quality resources around. Start with well-known organisations for the best guidance, such as Stonewall. Listen and show love The most important thing you can do is listen. Your child may want to express their feelings, they may have anxiety about their emerging sexuality, or they may want to talk about something that has happened to them. They may simply have a few questions about sex. Let your child know that the lines of communication are always open. Give them the time and space to talk, and show them that no matter what they say, you’re a loving and supportive parent. Remember, they may have spoken to you about their sexuality one day, but they may not want to the next. Don’t force it. There's no normal Recent figures from YouGov show that over half of young people say they are not 100% heterosexual. With figures like these, it’s perfectly ‘normal’ for your child to have bicurious, bisexual or homosexual preferences, or they may not have feelings of sexual attraction at all. With young people embracing a more fluid approach to sexuality, there should be no assumptions that your child is exclusively heterosexual. It starts with language. If you want to ask about your child’s romantic life, instead of asking about a boyfriend or girlfriend, ask if they have a ‘partner’ or ‘if they are seeing anyone’. By opting for gender-neutral terms, you’ll make your child feel more included if they are having feelings towards people from the same or both genders. Be sex positive We are generally more comfortable talking to young people about the practical aspects of sex – where do babies come from, what do our reproductive systems look like? – or the negative sides of sex – beware of STIs, don’t get pregnant. While it’s important to discuss these subjects, it’s also important to remember that the way you talk to your child about sex will impact their attitude towards it. Talk to them about what healthy relationships look like, how to explore their sexuality safely, and how to respect other people’s sexual preferences or choices. Teach them that consent matters and that respect and being caring are key to sexual relationships, no matter the gender they're attracted to. It means your child will grow up with a healthy, respectful attitude towards sex that they can take into adulthood, and instil in others too. If you’d like to know more about how a child’s sexuality can affect their well-being, read our 2018 The Good Childhood Report. Read the good childhood report Share Share this page * * * * * I'm worried my child might be gay Young people who don't identify as heterosexual may have lower well-being than their peers. Read our advice * The Good Childhood Report 2018 * Good Childhood Report resources for parents * Advice for parents * Traditional gender roles and stereotypes * How to discuss your child's sexuality with them * If your child is anxious about their sexuality * Self-harm in children - statistics Donate Donate Your gift will help make sure no child feels alone. £ 25__________________________________________________________ [Single donation_] Donate now Tweets from @childrensociety Contact us The Children's Society Whitecross Studios 50 Banner Street London EC1Y 8ST Supporter Care: 0300 303 7000 Media team More contact options Donate * Sign up for email updates * Organisational policies and statements * Safeguarding statement * Privacy policy * Cookie policy * Accessibility * Terms and conditions Follow us * * * * * © The Children's Society 2020 All rights reserved Charity Registration No. 221124 We are registered with the Fundraising Regulator