Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid They'd Ask): The Secrets to Surviving Your Child's Sexual Development from Bi

by Justin Richardson and Mark A. Schuster

Book Overview

If you've ever tried to tell your six-year-old how babies are made or your fourteen-year-old how condoms work, you know that grappling with telling your kids about sex can be a sweat-drenched exercise. But it doesn't have to be. Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid They'd Ask) is a one-of-a-kind survival guide that will help you stay sane through every stage of your child's sexual development. After interviewing...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400051282
• ISBN13: 9781400051281
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Harmony/Rodale
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A must buy!

I read the book and wish I had read it sooner and then I gave it to my 15 year old to read as well. Much better than A chicken's guide to talking turkey with your kids about sex (preachy at best, as in religious zealots). I think books are a useful tool to open up lines of communication and purchased this author's book, Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know About Sex with a copy of Dr. Ruth's Sex for Dummies for my older teen. I also read and shared, Human Sexuality by Roger R. Hock. It is my personal feeling that providing your child with information about thier bodies will help them keep themselves healthy. It does not mean we give them our blessings to do whatever they want nor does it mean we have the right to make choices for them. We do as parents have the responsibilities of educating them. As I have multiple children and liked her reasonable approach I also purchased Dr. Ruth Talks To Kids for my pre-teen. I also recommend the American Medical Association (Boy's/Girls) Guide To Becomming A Teen, and a copy of It's Perfectly Normal. Copies of It's So Amazing and It's Not The Stork are also worth having kicking around the house but I did find the books to be rather long so don't be surprised if your active younger child does't want to go over them in one sitting. Sexual development does begin in utero and it is time the average parent understood it better. That "talk" isn't just one talk you have with your child but a series of conversations in the car, at the supper table, when you are getting dressed in the changing room, changing diapers, in front of your best friend, at the doctor's office, and so on. If you are feeling a little shy about it- this book is for you.

Outstanding for the parent who NEEDS to know!

My kids are 10, 7, and 4. This book covers everything from birth until they're living on their own. It gives you honest information without judgment, and it tells wonderful funny stories to remind you that it's not the end of the world if you botch an answer to one of THOSE questions. It can't be as bad as those poor people quoted in the book! People with very conservative values may not appreciate the candid nature with which this book treats homosexuality and teen sex, but I certainly appreciate being armed with knowledge for next time the kids catch me with a loaded question. Believe it or not, this book is actually fun to read!

The Sex Ed. Book I'll Keep Coming Back To

I am the mother of two boys, ages 11 and 13, and I found this book to be the best ever sex education book. The first and perhaps most impressive aspect of the book is that it not only helps you see your child's sexuality through his/her eyes, it also portrays the parents' point of view in a helpful and sympathetic way.The second element that makes the book so effective is its down-to-earth humor. The authors review the phases of children's sexual development and parental experiences with many funny real life examples that get you chuckling and relaxing. In fact, my boys heard me laughing as I read one section and came over to ask about it. They read the part I was reading and it lead to a very comfortable discussion.A third aspect of the book I appreciated is that the authors have really done their research. They are not just giving their opinions, they provide concise research information which adds perspective.Lastly, the authors are very comprehensive. They include savvy advice on everything from what to do if your child walks in on you, to internet and IM use, adolescent rebellion, how to talk about homosexuality, and what if you don't like your child's boyfrind/girlfriend.Everything You Never Wanted Your Kids to Know...was written in such a way that it reduced my inhibitions about talking about sex with my boys, and it provided great, simple advice on the nitty gritty of how to do it.

Fun page turner expertly explores sex conundrums for parents

What a great read! I almost finished it in one sitting. This book is not only well-written, it's also chock full of great advice. I found it much more accessible than Deborah Roffman's Sex and Sensibility. It was as if the author knew me and wrote the book for me -- I want my children to grow up with a good attitude about sex, but even so, I feel a little squeamish about these topics. As a mom of a pre-teen and a toddler, I'm glad there's a book out there like this that isn't exclusively focused on teens, though they're well-covered here too. This one's a keeper. Now I've got a great new shower gift idea!

A must for every parent's library...

This is a superb guidebook for parents. As the father of three children (15, 13 and 8) this is the one book that has information pertinent to each--and, actually, to kids of all ages. It is informative in a witty, anecdotal and non-preachy way. I only wish it had been available years ago when the kids were born-- it might have saved me a lot of angst as they were growing-up.