Ready to talk? Parent Workshop Materials provided by Ready

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Readyto talk?
Parent Workshop Materials provided by
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Ready To Talk?Helping Parents Talk To Their
Children

• Introductions
• Campaign Overview
• Overview of PSUNC Workshop Materials
• Workshop Best Practices
• Parent Workshop Module 1
• Parent Workshop Module 2
• Parent Workshop Module 3
• Parent Workshop Module 4
• Tactical Tip (HANDOUT to Audience)
• Questions Answers
• Closing Words

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Introduction

• Facilitators
• Veronica Cruz Hispanic Outreach Center
• Yvette Williams African American Outreach
  Center

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Campaign Overview

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  (US DHHS) launched the Parents Speak Up National
  Campaign in 2005.
• The 'Parents Speak Up' campaign was developed
  based on research that concluded parents can
  influence the decisions their pre-teen and teen
  children make about sexual activity.
• And, youth look to their parents for their values
  and guidance when it comes to making decisions
  about sex.
• This national public education campaign is
  designed to encourage parents, especially those
  of pre-teens and teens, to talk to their children
  early, often and consistently about waiting to
  have sex.

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Ready to Talk

• Kit Components
• Ready to Talk DVD
• 15-minute educational video for parents
• Best practices for running workshops
• Campaign advertising
• Downloadable materials
• Leader Manual with workshop modules
• Workshop Presentation
• Parent Educational Materials

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Best Practices

• The Leader Training DVD segment shares tips
  and best practices for running an effective
  parent workshop.
• What to expect from parents
• How to make parents feel comfortable

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Ready to Talk

• PSUNC spoke with many parents across the country
  to better understand the feelings they have about
  talking to their children about waiting to have
  sex.
• The campaign identified five different parenting
  styles when it comes to conversations with their
  children about waiting to have sex. These styles
  are consistent across ethnic, racial and
  geographic groups.
• But theyre just children!
• Not my kids. I know what theyre thinking.
• Do I have to talk with them about THAT?
• Im concerned how my child will view me.
• What if I cant answer their questions?

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Module 1

• are you ready? ready to talk?
• Module 1 lays the groundwork for a successful
  workshop. You and the parents will make
  introductions, share parenting goals, and you
  will provide parents with information about the
  PSUNC campaign.
• Introductions and Icebreakers
• Important Statistics
• Teen sex is more prevalent than you think.
• Teen sex has physical and emotional consequences.
• Kids want to hear from their parents.
• Optional Exercise

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Video Segment 1

• lets start talking

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Module 1

• did you
• know?
• Introduce parents to the realities of teens sex
  with the facts
• 1 out of 3 ninth graders has had intercourse at
  least once.
• 1 in 4 teenage girls nationwide has an STD.
• 66 of teens who have had sex wish they had
  waited longer.
• Teens rank parents as the 1 influence on their
  sexual decisions.
• 88 of teens say it would be easier to postpone
  sexual activity if they were able to have more
  open, honest conversations with their parents.
• See Parent Handout 1 for more important
  statistics.

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Module 1

• Optional Exercise (time permitting)
• - Designed to set the stage emotionally for
  parents
• Parents imagine and discuss what it would be like
  to hear from their child that he/she is pregnant,
  has an STD or feels depressed about sexual
  activity.
• Divide parents into four groups of scenarios
  child is pregnant/has STD/feels depressed/not
  ready
• What emotional reactions do parents have at the
  thought of these scenarios?
• How do parents think these situations would
  impact their childrens lives?

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Module 2

• when parents talk, kids listen

Parents know they need to provide guidance on
their childs sexual behavior particularly
given the increasing influence of peers and the
media yet, often, they are filled with fears
and anxieties that prevent them from talking
about sex. Module 2 of Ready to Talk? helps
parents overcome their fears by examining the
underlying feelings and understanding the
positive benefits to talking.
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Module 2

• Top 10 Reasons Parents Dont Talk To Their Kids
  About Waiting to Have Sex.
• Video Segment 2 When parents talk, kids listen
• Video Segment 3 Whats your parenting style?
• Common Barriers

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Video Segments 2 3

• when parents talk, kids listen
• what is your parenting style?

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Module 2

• parenting styles and common barriers
• But theyre just children!
• Not my kids. I know what theyre thinking.
• Do I have to talk with them about THAT?
• Im concerned how my child will view me.
• What if I cant answer their questions?

See the Leader Manual and Parent Handout 2 for
more information about each of these barriers.
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Module 3

• tips for talking
• In this module, parents will learn specific ideas
  about how to begin and sustain conversations with
  their kids about waiting to have sex.
• Video Component 4
• Role Playing Cards
• Tips for Talking
• Good Answers for Tough Questions

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Module 3

• Parents who have attended similar workshops
  report that their number one goal is to learn
  what to say to their kids.
• Each parent has personal values and beliefs that
  will drive what they communicate to their child,
  but all want the best future for their child.

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Video Segment 4

• talking tips

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Module 3

• Remind parents that the two things that ALL
  parents should communicate to their children are
• They love them and will always love them.
• They do have values and expectations for their
  childrens behavior, and they include expecting
  their children to wait to have sex.
• Ask parents when they think the ideal age is for
  them to begin this discussion with their
  children.
• There is no right or wrong answer here.
• Discussions with parents suggest that 9 or 10
  years old is a good time to start if you havent
  already.

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Module 3

• Encourage parents of elementary-school-aged kids
  
• Talk about love, affection and relationships.
• Talk about treating others with respect and about
  expecting to be treated with respect.
• When your child is old enough to ask questions,
  he or she is old enough to receive simple and
  correct answers.

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Module 3

• Encourage parents of middle school-aged kids to
• Be very clear.
• Tell your pre-teen or teen why it is important to
  make good decisions about sex.
• Talk to him or her about setting goals for the
  future.
• Talk about feelings, relationships, values and
  waiting to have sex.

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Module 3

• Encourage parents of high school-aged kids to
• Keep talking.
• Continue to talk about setting goals.
• Continue to reinforce your familys values.

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Module 3

• Ask parents
• What advice or tips from the video might help
  make it easier to begin talking to your child
  about waiting to have sex?
• Does anything in the video change how you
  envision your next conversation with your child?
• Remind parents that the best teachers are often
  those who have already gone through a similar
  experience themselves.
• Ask parents to share any successful (or
  unsuccessful) stories or tips from their own
  experiences talking with their kids about sex.
• Invite parents to share how their own parents
  talked to them about sex.

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Module 3

• role playing
• Ask parents to pair up.
• Challenge them to role play their next
  conversation with their child about waiting to
  have sex.
• Conversation Starter Cards allow parents to
  practice what they might say in that situation.
  Examples include
• You and your child are watching television and a
  scene comes on where a teenage boy and girl are
  kissing.
• A well-known teenage star gets pregnant.
• Response During Conversation Cards gives parents
  the opportunity to practice how they will deal
  with difficult responses from their teen and
  pre-teen. Examples include
• Yuck. I cant talk to you about this.
• Do you think Im that stupid that Id get (or
  get a girl) pregnant?

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Parent Handouts

• Distribute Parent Handouts 3 4
• 10 Tips for Talking Examples
• Use bite-sized pieces of information build
  information over time
• Use movies, TV or every day occurrences as ways
  into the conversation
• Good Answers for Tough Questions Examples
• Child But we are in love.
• Parent Just because you feel you are in love
  doesnt mean you should have sex. There are many
  ways to show love without sex. And if he/she
  really loves you, he/she should respect your
  choice to wait. Remember everything weve talked
  about its healthy to wait.

See Parent Handouts 3 4 for more help.
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Module 4

• wrap up and next steps

Give parents an opportunity to reflect on the
content, ask questions, and make a commitment to
implement some of what theyve learned. People
are often more likely to implement a change when
they make a verbal commitment in front of
others. Parent Handout 5 allows parents to set a
specific goal for themselves. Parent Handout 6
invites parents to provide feedback on the
workshop.
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Tactical Tips

• tips for running an effective parent workshop

• Review all materials a couple of times before
  conducting the workshop.
• Consider your audience.
• Consider your group size.
• If you dont have a built-in audience, you may
  need to promote the workshop to get parents to
  attend.
• Try to keep track of time so you can get through
  the entire workshop.
• Create a light atmosphere to ease parents
  anxieties.
• Use humor throughout the workshop.
• Put everyone on the same playing field
  immediately.

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Tactical Tips

• tips for running an effective parent workshop
  (continued)

• Establish ground rules early in the workshop so
  parents feel comfortable sharing their opinions.
• Help parents understand that there are many
  successful ways to approach the conversation
  rather than one cookie cutter discussion.
• Allow for abundant interaction among the
  parents.
• Encourage parents to relate the workshop content
  to their own lives.
• Allow for reflection time.
• Dont allow one very vocal person to control the
  conversation.
• Have fun and dont feel like you have to be the
  expert!

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Q A

• Reactions to this information and materials?
• Did we meet our goals set at the beginning of
  the session?

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Need help?

• Review take-home materials from todays workshop.
  
• Visit www.4parents.gov for the latest information
  and resources.
• Reminder - Your kit includes
• Ready to Talk DVD
• 15-minute educational video for parents
• Best practices for running workshops
• Campaign advertising
• Downloadable materials
• Leader Manual with workshop modules
• Workshop Presentation
• Parent Educational Materials

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