• The pace at which kids’ bodies, experiences, attitudes and relationships change is mind-boggling. Were they not just sitting in a high chair smearing puréed food all over their face? It’s on us to keep up with their rapid social, emotional and sexual transformations while honestly discussing what’s actually happening – from ,,This Is So Awkward by Dr Cara Natterson & Vanessa Kroll Bennett Fun (obvious) fact: 100% of people go through puberty! “And almost every single adult looking back on it cringes,” paediatrician Dr Cara Natterson told us. “What happens in puberty – the experiences, t ..read more

Have you had enough of Barbie – the ultimate sex-ed film? We haven’t: we’ve gone back for repeat viewings and keep marvelling at the lyrics and the lines, relishing that a mainstream movie has brought sex-education themes to the big screen and made such a big impact. Barbie is full of teachable moments and talking points for starting conversation with kids. Our premise with Outspoken Sex Ed is that parents talking openly about sex & relationships issues helps with safeguarding, improves mental health and strengthens the parent-child connection. In talking openly at home, it’s important to ..read more

“I have never known Barbie without knowing the argument against Barbie” – director Greta Gerwig, age 39 Barbie is a game changer. It’s girl positive, female driven. A sociological phenomenon that’s ignited ,criticism, ,backlash, celebration and an appetite for debating gender expectations. The first time we saw this bubblegum-pink fever dream of a blockbuster, it felt fun and incisive but a bit simplistic and uneven. Still, we hadn’t expected the emotional rollercoaster ride of thinking about our own relationships with dolls and toys, our daughters at a young age and how complicated it can be ..read more

If you know a woman, then the WOW (Women of the World) festival is for you, says the indomitable WOW CEO Jude Kelly, an advocate of openness, optimism and activism. We were inspired to see the Global Boyhood Initiative at WOW. We’ve long said that the flip side to empowering girls has got to be encouraging boys to express their feelings. It’s one of the initiative’s goals – plus standing up against bullying and connecting with others. See their excellent 1-pagers for parents on talking about radical influencers and ditching stereotypes. Their conversation starters are designed, via research ..read more

Speaking from experience as a queer-positive sex educator, Dr Nadine Thornhill specialises in child and adolescent sexuality and co-stars in Every Body Curious – the YouTube series for kids aged 9 to 12 that features real children, some with disabilities, learning about bodies, consent, sex and relationships. Episodes include Just Say Gay, Orientation and Love Is Love. Here – and in our Speak Out video – Nadine talks about ways we can change our language, what you can say and do if your child comes out to you, and how all parents and kids can be LGBT+ allies… “I didn’t have the words or knowl ..read more

Porn is one of the all-time most difficult topics for parents to approach with their children. But according to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) more than half of kids ,aged 11 to 13 have seen porn – mostly accidentally and sometimes by the age of 6 or 7. Reassuringly talking us through it all is the persuasive and captivating Dr Naomi Sutton. Estimating that she’s seen more than 5,000 vulvas professionally, Naomi is outspoken in her NHS sexual-health work and on the TV show The Sex Clinic. Here – and in our Speak Out video (see it on Patreon for free) – our supportive Advisory ..read more

The first Mental Health Champion for schools until she spoke out against the government in 2016, Natasha Devon MBE is a writer, speaker, podcaster and LBC radio-show presenter. Educating young people, teachers and parents, she has long been an intrepid campaigner around mental health and body image – which are interrelated and tie in with self-esteem. Here Natasha talks to us about girls and exercise, boys and body dissatisfaction, porn and body image, and how you can approach these issues with your child and help them change their social media wallpaper and feel good about their body… In Hol ..read more

During Pride Month, 9 people in the public eye, including the US president, spoke positively about and to LGBT+ people on coming out, role models and their family. To discover who said what, click on the quote and all will be revealed… (From left) President Joe Biden signs executive order to combat LGBT+ discrimination & conversion therapy (15/6/22); Colin Scott (pictured right), the first openly gay UK state-school head teacher, introduces his husband in assembly (14/6/22) and actor Rebel Wilson speaks out about coming out after a newspaper tried to reveal her sexuality (13/6/22) (From ..read more

You’re the parent of an LGBT+ kid. You’re the parent of a straight kid. Either way, showing up as someone who accepts and respects people regardless of their sexual orientation is important. We all need to be – and to encourage our kids to be – good LGBT+ allies. Here Justin Tindall, director of programmes and operations at the It Gets Better Project, talks about growing up queer, coming out and trying gender-neutral language on for size… “Not for a moment have I regretted coming out” – Justin Tindall (pictured) How young might someone be when they first start having LGBT+ feelings, even if ..read more

Kids can be scared about the changes they will go through during puberty – and parents can be scared to talk openly with them about it all. Here Sex Ed Rescue founder Cath Hakanson explains how to use your everyday voice even when you’re speaking about sperm, how to talk deodorant and sex with tweens and teenagers and how to bring up genitals, gender and gender stereotypes with younger kids while colouring in anatomically correct paper dolls… Ideally parents would talk with their kids about puberty before puberty hits. But you’ve said that the biggest mistake parents make is leaving it too la ..read more