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