Tips for Talking To An Askable Adult
- Instead of answering the question, “what did you learn in school today?” turn it around and quiz your parents after a PREP lesson! Ask them if they know which birth control method is most effective. (It’s the implant, btw.) Or ask them which STD’s are curable and which ones aren’t. Quiz an adult with “Would you rather have Herpes or Genital Warts?” Don’t forget to ask “Why?”!
- Ask your parents to help you practice resistance skills learned in class before going to a party where you might be faced with temptations of cigarettes, alcohol, weed or sexual activity that you really don’t want to engage in. Ask them, ‘what would you say or do if this happened to you?’ Further demonstrate your new knowledge and skills by filling in the blanks when they forget any of the steps for drawing their line.
- Use a scene on TV (16 & Pregnant, perhaps?), in a movie or music video to ask what they think is important in a relationship or when they think is the right time to start a family. This can help you begin to develop your own personal limits, values and beliefs.
- Share something a friend or classmate is experiencing or experimenting with as a way to discuss your parent’s thoughts, feelings and family or religious values on the topic
- Use online and local resources or text ICYC (In Case Your Curious) to 57890 in Colorado and look up answers to questions together.
Think of how grown up and responsible you will look and sound when YOU know the places to go for reliable information when the adults you’re talking to don’t know all the answers to your questions. (News Flash – they won’t know all the answers!)
