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D.I.Y. SEX EDUCATION

resources for teaching yourself or others inclusive sex & sexuality education

 
 
D.I.Y. SEX EDUCATION RESOURCES
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Sex Education

 

GENERAL SEX & SEXUALITY EDUCATION RESOURCES

Online:

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Books:

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Child Sexual Development

  • Traffic Lights app for tablets An app by an Australian organisation, True Relationships & Reproductive Health, that describes healthy sexual behaviours (green), concerning behaviours (orange) and harmful behaviours (red) for children aged 0-17. It also explains possible reasons for specific behaviours, suggested responses and provides case studies.

  • Traffic Lights app for mobile phone An app by an Australian organisation, True Relationships & Reproductive Health, that describes healthy sexual behaviours (green), concerning behaviours (orange) and harmful behaviours (red) for children aged 0-17. It also explains possible reasons for specific behaviours, suggested responses and provides case studies.

  • Child Sexual Development blogposts on a range of common sexual behaviours, when to worry and how to respond to them.

  • Brook Sexual Behaviours Traffic Light Tool A UK adaptation of the Traffic Lights tool that is available on their website. 

  • Child development profiles A guide to child development from Susan Laing of Creative Living with Children, that provides a very wise guide to your child’s development.

  • When to be concerned about childhood sexual behaviour An Australian article from Raising Children, about when to be concerned about child sexual behaviour.

  • Child Sexual Development A Canadian government site that has really good information on healthy child sexual development.

  • Resource for Parents and Caregivers. Resource for parents and caregivers from NSRVC that focuses on how they can better understand healthy childhood development, create safe environments, and support the children in their lives. 

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Younger children

Parents

Websites for kids

  • Consent video A short video that talks about what consent means by Blue Seat Studios.

  • Kid’s Health An Australian state government Child and Youth Health site with information about a whole range of topics about their body.

  • Creepy Naked Stuff A short video for younger children to watch as well as some information for parents on how to talk about pornography.

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Puberty & Tweens

Parents

  • DIY period kit Learn how to make up a period kit for your daughter’s school bag.

  • A parent’s guide to menstruation products A guide to the many period products that are available and what is best for a girl’s first period.

  • Period care bags Purpose made bags by Raigan J Australia that will hold all your period things. What I love about these are that they are discrete, fold open, have zippered apartments and a j hook so that you can hang it. They ship internationally and this is not an affiliate link – it is just a product that ticks all the boxes for what a girl needs, when it comes to all things period!

  • NRK Norway sex education videos These Norwegian TV videos have subtitles and take a very frank (and explicit) approach to explaining puberty. Warning – you will see real genitals and these videos take a very frank approach that may offend some!

  • Girltopia A set of 70 full-colour cards for building conversations with girls from age 10, that can be used by counsellors, educators, social workers, health professionals, teams, managers and parents. A great way to have some meaningful conversations with the girls.

  • Books about puberty for kids Reviews of lots of the many books about puberty that are readily available for boys and girls from the ages of 8+.

  • Girl Puberty: How to talk about puberty and sex with your tween girl A straightforward common sense book for parents on how to talk about puberty and sex with their tween girl (8-13).

  • Boy Puberty: How to talk about puberty and sex with your tween boy A straightforward common sense book for parents on how to talk about puberty and sex with their tween boy (9-13).

  • How menstruation works A 4 minute video that explains what the menstrual cycle.

  • Puberty and Sexual Development A Canadian government site that has really good information on what puberty is all about.

  • Puberty blogposts from Sex Ed Rescue All of the puberty related blogposts from Sex Ed Rescue listed on the one page.

  • Common Sense Media helps parents to navigate what is (and isn’t) appropriate for kids to watch. They provide great talking points for parents about programs that you may watch together.

  • Parenting Digital by Cory Peppler provides very grounded and practical advice for parents on how to parent in our digital world. A topic you should start thinking about earlier than you think!

  • Principles for Gender-Inclusive Puberty and Health Education by Gender Spectrum is a landmark publication outlining the first-ever comprehensive principles for gender-inclusive puberty and health education (PHE).

  • PUBERTY 101 is the page that has all the links to all the content on this site that has to do with puberty.

Websites for tweens

  • Puberty Talk A youtube channel by Sex Ed Rescue for tweens where they can get their questions answered and learn all about puberty and growing up. Content is also ideal to watch together with your child.

  • The Period Blog A blog that provides quite simple information and answers questions about periods for young girls.

  • Amaze videos Videos for tweens and young teens that provide age-appropriate information about puberty, love, sex and relationships in short animated videos.

  • Nearly Teens An Aussie government site that provides some really nice simple information for kids about puberty and the changes that will be happening to them.

  • The Hormone Factory An Australian site by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Australia. The aim of the site is to support parents and teachers in talking to children about sexual and reproductive development, to answer the questions children often ask, and the ones they don’t (but wonder about). NB. This site has disappeared but I will leave this here just incase it is reinstated – google ‘the hormone factory’ and see if it appears.

  • Body Smarts by the CDC website, BAM! Body and Mind, kids can find age-appropriate information about their changing body.

  • Advice blog about periods, puberty and more from Becoming a Teen (A UK menstrual supplier) that has some really good videos and information on periods (like how to put a pad in), puberty, friendships and dating, emotions boobs and bras, sex and sexual feelings, lifestyle and a great collection of how-to videos.

  • So what is a vulva? A booklet from Brook UK and BritSPAG to help tweens understand their vulva and how puberty can change it.

  • Body Talk by Family Planning NSW a website for tweens and teens that talks about puberty, relationships, STI’s and contraceptio

Sex & Teens

Parents

  • Books for teens on love, sex and relationships Reviews of the best books that will help you to talk to your kids about love, sex and relationships.

  • The adolescent brain – What all teens need to know An article by Karen Young from Hey Sigmund, on what actually happens to the brain during adolescence.

  • What your teen needs you to know An article by Karen Young from Hey Sigmund, on what teens need from you as they go through adolescence.

  • They’ll Do What? The What and the Why of the Changes that Come With Adolescence An article by Karen Young from Hey Sigmund, that explains why teens do what they do!

  • Sex and your teenager Some fantastic information from Susan Laing of Creative Living with Children, that provides a very wise guide to your child’s sexual development as a teenager.

  • Raising kids to be teens who talk to you A blogpost from We’re Far From Normal, that has some nice tips on how to do this.

  • Difficult conversations with teenagers An article on how to talk with teens about tricky topics on the Australian site, Raising Children.

  • The Respect Checklist A practical checklist to help parents and family members identify some important aspects of respect to talk about with children.

  • Common Sense Media helps parents to navigate what is (and isn’t) appropriate for kids to watch. They provide great talking points for parents about programs that you may watch together.

  • Raising Awesome Teens in a Chaotic, Sexualised World provides some sound advice from Aussie parenting guru Maggie Dent on how to talk to teens in a sexualised world.

  • 5MIweekly is a Youtube channel by a human sexuality educator at an American university. A great channel to subscribe to if you want to learn more about sex yourself.

Websites for teens

  • Puberty Talk A youtube channel by Sex Ed Rescue for tweens where they can get their questions answered and learn all about puberty and growing up. Content is also ideal to watch together with your child.

  • Scarlateen Internationally renowned site that provides information and support to teens aged 15+.

  • Go Ask Alice! A Q&A site by a team of health professionals from Columbia University, with a huge database of information for teens.

  • BISH UK A UK site that provides a guide to sex, love and you for everyone over 14. Age-appropriate and non-judgemental.

  • Ask Nurse Nettie An Australian state government site that answers any questions youth may have about sex. Good information on the site as well.

  • Reachout A leading Australian online mental health organisation for young people and their parents. Great information about relationships and more.

  • Get the facts An Australian state government site that provides age-appropriate information on a range of sex-related topics for youth.

  • Vagina Dispatches Information for teens about the vulva/vagina by The Guardian.

  • Real Talk is a mobile app (IOS only) that uses real stories by real teens to convey relevant and credible information about the issues that teens go through growing up. Stories cover topics including healthy relationships, bullying, and online safety. 

  • Sex and U A Canadian site for teens by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC), that provides factual information about sex, same-sex attraction, STIs, contraception, pregnancy, consent and more.

  • Sexperience A UK site by Channel 4 that provides some very graphic but educational (and entertaining) information for teens about sex.

  • Sex, etc. A USA site for teens that provides some fantastic information on a range of sex-related topics.

  • It’s your (sex) life MTV’s Emmy and Peabody Award-winning public information campaign to support young people in making responsible decisions about their sexual health.

  • Minus18 An Australian site for LGBTI youth that has some great information about love, sex and relationships.

  • In real life: Stories of sex & relationships An Australian site by Family Planning NSW with information about the reality of being sexual, by providing the answers to sex and relationship questions that go beyond the biological and medical, normalise conversations of sex.

  • Frank. Talk. Test. Enjoy An Australian site by Family Planning NSW for youth that talks frankly about sex, relationships and your body.

  • Rosie Respect An Australian site that provides a space for teenage girls to connect with the best of the web, helping them to navigate life’s tricky situations. Rosie has a range of tips, links and videos all centred around a theme of respect – for body & mind, work & study, relationships, and the world we live in.

  • Lawstuff: Know your rights An Australian site that informs kids of their legal rights (sex stuff is included).

  • Childline A UK site that provides some fantastic information about sexuality for teens.

  • Consent is Everything The ‘cup of tea’ consent video with some helpful information on what consent is all about.

  • Sex booklets for teens on sex, masturbation, penises, vulvas, and condoms (and more) by RFSU Sweden (in english). Fantastic information that empowers teens with facts in an age-appropriate way.

  • Respect yourself an English site for teens with factual and youth-focused info about a wide range of sexuality topics.

  • So what is a vulva? A booklet from Brook UK and BritSPAG to help teens understand their vulva and how puberty can change it.

  • The labia library – general information that will answer questions about where your vulva/vagina is normal. Explicit (but educational) photos.

  • Body Talk by Family Planning NSW a website for tweens and teens that talks about puberty, relationships, STI’s and contraception. Also provides tips for parents and children on how to start talking to each other.

  • Virtual Teen a site for teens to come chill, ask questions, find answers, and give advice. Teens ask their questions and others will chime in and comment. Seems to be very active and supportive!

  • n. Also provides tips for parents and children on how to start talking to each other.

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Sexting (or sending nudes)

Parents

  • Sexting An article from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner (Australia) that explains sexting and it’s risks.

  • Megan Maas blogposts Girlology have some guest posts from Dr Megan Maas where she talks about what the research tells us about sexting.

  • Sexting: Guide for parents and carers An Australian article from the site, Developing Minds by Kirrilie Smout, with some great tips for parents on how to talk about sexting with teens.

  • Sexting: early conversations with children 6-11 years An Australian article from Raising Children, about how to start talking about sexting.

  • How to practice safe sexting – TED talk by Amy Adele Hasinoff who suggests that we need to approach sexting differently, putting our energy into ensuring our kids do it safely instead of trying to stop them (which is a waste of time).

  • Digital Romance A research project by Brook & NCA’s CEOP, exploring young people’s use of technology in their romantic relationships and love lives. Bibliography here.

  • Sexting Handbook by Commonsense Media.

  • What Parents Need to Know About Digital Consent. Parenting expert, Dr. Janet Rosenzweig, discusses digital consent and how parents can talk to their teens about giving and getting consent over the internet and text messages. As Dr. Rosenzweig writes, “You can’t keep someone from asking your child for a nude selfie or prevent your child from asking for one. But you can help your child understand the risks and make a sensible decision when temptation arises.”

Websites for kids

  • Sexting Information Sheet An Australian information sheet from Lawstuff for teens that talks about what sexting is and the legalities of sending and receiving underage images.

  • Sexting and selfies tips Tips from the UK site, Brook Sexual Health, with things to think about before you press ‘send’ on an image.

  • Posting pictures and videos A UK site, Think U Know, for ages 5-7, 8-10, 11-13 and 14+ (and parents) that provides lots of information about sex. Sexting is talked about.

  • Childline A UK site with some really good information about sexting and what to do if you’ve already shared a photo.

  • Rosie.org.au article about safe sexting – Now this article was controversial, as it came with a workshop on how to teach teens to sext safely.

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Pornography & Cybersafety

Parents

Websites for kids

  • ​​​​​The Light Project – A New Zealand website with great information for teens about porn.

  • BISH – A guide to sex love and you A site for ages 14+ that provides some really interesting information about porn. A great place to learn more about what’s in porn WITHOUT actually having to watch any.

  • Go Ask Alice An internationally renowned site that provides answers for teens (and even parents) about sex. Aims to provide reliable, accurate, accessible, and culturally competent information so that teens and young adults can make informed decisions about sex. It has lots of information about porn.

  • Creepy Naked Stuff A short video for younger children to watch as well as some information for parents on how to talk about pornography.

  • Childline – Online Porn Age-appropriate Information from the UK for ages 12+ on what porn is (fantasy vs reality), how porn can make you feel, pressure to watch porn in a relationship, how to tell if you are watching too much porn, and tips on how to stop watching porn.

  • Pleasure vs Profit A Scottish site that provides really good information for teens about how the porn industry manipulates a natural curiosity about sex to sell a narrow, joyless and harmful version of sexuality.

  • Think U Know A UK site for ages 5-7, 8-10, 11-13 and 14+ (and parents) that provides lots of information about sex. Porn is talked about.

  • It’s time we talked An Australian site that provides information for teens, parents, schools and community organisations on how to talk about pornography. It does have some useful information and resources.

Sexual Abuse

Faith-based Resources

Here you’ll find some sites that talk about issues that may conflict with Christian beliefs. Sex Ed Rescue reaches parents from all over the world. And a significant number of these parents struggle with balancing their religious beliefs with sexual diversity. So one of my lovely peers, Jamie Barnett, from Palo Alto Parents for Sex Ed, has provided me with most of these resources.

Consent

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SEX & SEXUALITY EDUCATION + DISABILITIES RESOURCES

Online:

  • Organization for Autism Research Sex Ed

  • Sex Ed for People with I/DD series from NCIL

  • RespectAbility links & resources for sex ed for disabled people (NOT inclusive of transgender people)

  • Scarleteen’s Sex & Parent Caregivers portal

  • Consent Is Sexy: Sexual Autonomy and Disability

  • Planet Puberty is a fabulous new FREE online puberty resource for parents of kids with an intellectual disability and autism. It has a wide range of fantastic free resources and they offer live (and free) webinars that you can attend, on a wide range of different topics like wet dreams, periods and feelings.

  • SECCA App is a free resource that provides you with tools to start talking to kids about love, sex, relationships and keeping safe.

  • For parents of children with developmental disabilities some really simple and practical information about what to talk about,  how to start talking, activities and strategies for managing tricky behaviour. 

  • If you’re American, and looking for someone to help you with sex ed and a child with a disability, try Katie Thune from Sexuality for all Abilities.

  • Sexuality and disability books list – You’ll find a wide range of books that you can read with your child about sex and puberty, as well as books that will help you work out what to do. 

  • Sexuality education for students with disabilities is a resource page filled with amazing resources.

 

Books:

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SEX, GENDER, & SEXUALITY RESOURCES

Online:

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“MY CHILD JUST CAME OUT TO ME!” RESOURCES

Online:

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Websites for kids

  • Families like mine is a multimedia guide that offers practical advice to families of young gender diverse people, same-sex attracted and bisexual people, and those who are questioning their sexuality or gender identity.

  • Gender Identity and Mental Health – Information from Headspace in regards to looking after yourself. Download Gender Identity & Mental Health flyer.

  • Minus 18 – Australia’s youth driven network for LGBTQI youth.

  • Someone you Love – an ebook to give to family and friends if you’re coming out. This booklet answers lots of questions frequently asked by family and friends when someone close to them comes out.

  • Not so Straight – a website specifically built to help young people find information and support about sex and sexuality.

  • Queer Kid Stuff – a Youtube channel run by Lindsay and her best stuffed friend, Teddy, where they are working towards a kinder and more equal future by educating kids about LGBT, being queer and more.

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Books:

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BIRTH CONTROL RESOURCES

Online:

 

Books:

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