8 Little Things You Can Do Each Day To Model Sex Positivity For Your Kids
bySabrina Joy Stevens
Sex positive parenting si grossly misunderstood, which can lead to some raised eyebrows and judgmental looks. However, all it's really about is understanding that our kids are autonomous people who will (if they choose) grow up to be sexually active, and making sure they have the knowledge and confidence they need to engage in healthy, consensual sexual activity when they’re ready. Fortunately, there are lots of little things we can do every day to model sex positivity for our kids. It’s on us to raise kids who know how their bodies function, and who respect themselves and other people enough to be decent partners.
Being a sex positive parent can definitely be confusing or awkward at times, especially if we didn’t grow up in sex positive households ourselves. Unlearning body shame and all that goes with it is a lifelong process, which is one reason why it’s so important not to teach body shame and sex negativity in the first place. When we enforce the idea that sex is inherently "wrong" or "bad," what we're really telling our children is that their bodies or their feelings are "wrong" or "bad," and that's not something sex positive parents can get behind.
Still, it’s understandable that some of the funny, frank, and weird questions and situations our kids present us with will (occasionally) make us feel a bit at a loss for words. Remembering that being sex positive is not about promoting all sexual behavior, least of all to children, really helps. It's about giving guidance and information, just as you would for any other aspect of their lives, and modeling respect for their and other people's bodies, so they can make good choices later in life, when they're ready and willing. So, with that in mind, here are things you can do each day to model sex positivity, like: