Sex Is More Than a Plumbing Lesson: A Parents' Guide to Sexuality Education for Infants Through the Teen Years

Rating:
Summary: Patty helps parents help their kids choose well
Review: Patty Stark has 2 teenagers (who I know personally) and has used her experience as an approachable mom to help other parents keep the lines of communication open. All too often today, when sex= genital pleasure, our young people loose out on the spiritual aspects of sex that make it truely unitative and life-enhancing. Patty tells parents to give their children more than just "the talk." (and to speak of these issues more than just once!) What makes this book so different is its focus on what is healthy and normal (like what a fun date looks like instead of fixating on date rape, encouraging good dating habits instead of listing all the contraceptive options, stages in a healthy relationship as opposed to self-gratification). I give this book less than five stars because Patty, since the book was published, has changed her views on mastrubation.

Rating:
Summary: Help create an open, honest space for your kids.
Review: This is a good book for parents who are anxious about their children's sexual development and who want them to have strong morals, but who aren't sure they know just how to go about doing it. Stark assumes parents can get the "plumbing lesson" elsewhere, and focuses on the most important parts of sex education: creating an open, honest atmosphere in which children may grow, surrounded by well-modeled examples of loving behavior. To this end, the book asks parents to take a hard look at their own lives: are you providing a good example for your children? If you aren't, how can you change that? In addition to short explanations about developmental stages (from infancy through teen years) and answering a few sample questions, Stark provides a framework on which families can build a healthy attitude about sex.