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Explaining relationships/consent/LGBTQ+ stuff to younger kids (any book recs etc.?)
Former Member
Posts: 42 The answer to life, the universe, and everything
Hey : )
So my younger brother is 11 and starting secondary school soon. I'm excited for him but also worried, because obviously teenagers can be pretty awful and it can be a shit time what with puberty, insecurity about your looks, peer pressure etc. I'd feel too awkward and weird asking him what sex-and-relationships stuff they covered at primary school, and given it's only a matter of time before he starts having a go at Instagram and Tiktok and whatever - plus in light of stuff I've heard about Andrew Tate and incels targeting insecure teen boys - I'm worried about the kinds of messages, depictions of women etc. he could end up coming across because it's trending or a friend posts it on a group chat or whatever. Also, I don't know how much sex ed has improved since I was at school, but my memories include zero LGBTQ+ inclusion and zero discussion of consent. (We did learn in Y10 about STIs and do the 'walk around in beer goggles then put a condom on a fake phallus' thing, though. Yay!)
Anyway, I'm insanely awkward in verbal conversations at the best of times, so I'm probably not the right person to explain stuff to him, but I don't want him to get hit hard by puberty and still know f-all. So I was wondering, does anyone know any books, websites (like The Mix I guess but for a slightly younger audience) and so on that I could point him towards, just in a 'if you're confused about anything, here's where you can find useful info' kind of way?
Cheers guys x
So my younger brother is 11 and starting secondary school soon. I'm excited for him but also worried, because obviously teenagers can be pretty awful and it can be a shit time what with puberty, insecurity about your looks, peer pressure etc. I'd feel too awkward and weird asking him what sex-and-relationships stuff they covered at primary school, and given it's only a matter of time before he starts having a go at Instagram and Tiktok and whatever - plus in light of stuff I've heard about Andrew Tate and incels targeting insecure teen boys - I'm worried about the kinds of messages, depictions of women etc. he could end up coming across because it's trending or a friend posts it on a group chat or whatever. Also, I don't know how much sex ed has improved since I was at school, but my memories include zero LGBTQ+ inclusion and zero discussion of consent. (We did learn in Y10 about STIs and do the 'walk around in beer goggles then put a condom on a fake phallus' thing, though. Yay!)
Anyway, I'm insanely awkward in verbal conversations at the best of times, so I'm probably not the right person to explain stuff to him, but I don't want him to get hit hard by puberty and still know f-all. So I was wondering, does anyone know any books, websites (like The Mix I guess but for a slightly younger audience) and so on that I could point him towards, just in a 'if you're confused about anything, here's where you can find useful info' kind of way?
Cheers guys x
Post edited by TheMix on
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"The way that I have found the light in my life is through the expressive arts because I know that I will be accepted for the way I am." ~ Me
"I'm going to get strong again and see you soon. " ~ Anonymous
I think some secondary schools have copies of their curriculum online, so it might be possible to have a look at that and see if they cover sex and relationships.
A website that also has information on sex and relationships is childline. I'll attach some links below.
You and your body (including puberty) https://childline.org.uk/info-advice/you-your-body/
Friends and relationships (including peer pressure and sex and consent) https://childline.org.uk/info-advice/friends-relationships-sex/#explore
School and college (which has some useful information about starting new schools) https://childline.org.uk/info-advice/school-college-and-work/school-college/
Also echoing what @Dancer has said the consent is like tea video by the Thames Valley Police is a great video that explains consent in really simple terms.
I hope this helps, if there is anything else you need support with, remember we're all here for you.