What are the best sex-ed books for kids?
From Sex Education: A Comprehensive Guide for Teens and Young Adults to Our Bodies, Ourselves and The Boys Body Book , here are three answers to the question, “What are your best book recommendations that can help kids and teens learn about sex in healthy, positive ways?”
- Sex Education: A Comprehensive Guide for Teens and Young Adults by Justine Lemos
- It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex and Sexual Health: by Robie H. Harris
- Our Bodies, Ourselves by Judy Norsigian and The Boys Body Book: Everything you Need to Know for Growing Up by Dunham, Bjorkman, and Anastas
Sex Education: A Comprehensive Guide for Teens and Young Adults by Justine Lemos
Sex Education: A Comprehensive Guide for Teens and Young Adults is an excellent book to help young people learn about sex safely and positively.
This comprehensive guide covers consent, gender identity, communication skills, sexual health, and online safety. The book provides simple explanations of concepts often misunderstood or left out of conversations, breaking them down suitably for young people.
Aviad Faruz, CEO, FARUZO
It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex and Sexual Health: by Robie H. Harris
Suppose you’re looking to equip young people with the information they need to navigate their own sexuality and sex lives. In that case, I’d recommend It’s Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex and Sexual Health by Robie H. Harris.
This book just celebrated its 25th anniversary as an essential resource for kids and teens wanting to learn about the ins and outs of sex in a healthy, age-appropriate manner. Designed by experts specializing in health care communication and consulted with doctors, parents, teachers, clergy representing diverse beliefs, and others worldwide involved in sex education or parenting, It’s Perfectly Normal offers accurate facts that parents can trust.
The drawings are fantastic illustrations designed by Rainbowfitz Communications. The takeaway? This book is a must-have for arming children of all ages—from 7 to 17—knowing that could prove vital to their overall well-being and development as individuals.
Jamie Irwin, Director, Straight Up Search
Our Bodies, Ourselves by Judy Norsigian and Boys Body Book: Everything you Need to Know for Growing Up by Dunham, Bjorkman, and Anastas
For girls and young women, I strongly recommend Our Bodies, Ourselves by Judy Norsigian. It is a very empowering book with positive messages about sexuality and reproductive health, written in a very accessible way. The only challenge for more conservative parents is that it includes topics surrounding gender identity and reproductive rights, which some might choose to avoid.
For boys and young men, I recommend The Boys Body Book: Everything you Need to Know for Growing Up by Dunham, Bjorkman, & Anastas. Besides the typical conversations about puberty and body changes, The Boys Body Book covers several important topics for both girls and boys, like consent, stress management, emotional health, and healthy friendships.
Tali Ditye, PhD, Editor-in-Chief, Co-Founder, Mommyhood101
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