Sex Ed for Tween Parents Podcast
What if talking to your kids about sex didn’t have to be awkward? Listen now!
Learn to talk with your kid about sex, naturally, factually and without shame, fear or toe curling embarrassment. Qualified, ridiculously experienced sex educator, Cath Hakanson, shares age suitable tips, tools and tactics to move you from cringe → comfortable when it comes to sex, relationships, gender and love.
Practical, straight up and going to the most unexplored topics, Cath’s a real voice to guide you through arguably parenthood’s most tricky terrain.
Feel equipped and more comfortable to teach your kid about sex ed. From porn to periods, body parts to online safety and beyond, Cath simplifies sex ed so you can open conversations that matter and build a trusting, connected relationship that pulls you and your child closer than ever.
Follow the podcast and be one step ahead of whatever curveball your child throws at you.
Season One
Welcome to the Podcast
In this welcome episode, Cath introduces the podcast, explains why sex ed works best as lots of small conversations, and shares how parents can talk with their 8 to 12-year-old kids about bodies, puberty, porn, consent, crushes and relationships – without cringe or shame.
Avoid These 3 Common Sex Ed Mistakes Tween Parents Make
Feeling stuck on how to start sex ed with your tween? Discover the 3 biggest mistakes parents make – and how to avoid them so conversations become easier, more natural, and way less cringey.
9 reasons you should be your tween’s sex ed teacher
Still hoping school or a book will handle the sex ed stuff for you? In this episode, I’ll share 9 powerful, research-backed reasons why you are actually the best person for the job – and how teaching your tween about sex, bodies, and relationships sets them up for a safer, more confident future.
Feeling stuck with sex ed? These 5 roadblocks might be why
You’re not lazy. You’re not failing. You’re just stuck – and this episode will help you figure out why. Learn the 5 most common blocks that stop parents from having sex ed conversations, and how to gently move past them.
From growth spurts to crushes: What your tween’s going through
What’s really going on inside your tween’s head (and body)? This episode walks you through the changes your child is experiencing – physically, emotionally and socially – so you can understand their behaviour and talk about it with confidence.
What to teach your tween about sex? Let’s simplify it
Feel like you’re overthinking what to say – and how much to share? This episode will help you simplify it all. Learn how to decide what your tween actually needs to know right now, and how to start the conversation without going too far, too fast.
What age-appropriate really means in tween sex ed
Worried that explaining something like a sex toy or porn will “ruin their innocence”? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’ll show you what age-appropriate really means – and how to answer even tricky questions without overexposing your child or making it weird.
Want better sex ed chats? Here’s the secret sauce
Ever walk away from a sex ed convo feeling like you fumbled it? 😬 You’re not alone. In this episode, I’ll share the secret sauce that makes sex ed chats smoother, clearer, and more aligned with your family values. No scripts. No shame. Just a simple 3-step framework that works.
Think you’ve covered puberty? Double-check this list first
Already had the puberty talk with your tween? Awesome – but there’s a good chance they still haven’t heard everything they need. In this episode, I’ll walk you through six must-share messages that go beyond the basics to help your child feel confident, calm and ready for all the changes ahead.
Talking puberty with your son? Start with these 6 things
You want your son to feel confident about his changing body – but where do you even start? In this episode, I’ll walk you through 6 puberty changes that every boy (or tween with testicles) should hear about – clearly, calmly, and without embarrassment.
From periods to boobs: What tween girls need to know
You want your daughter to feel confident about her changing body – but where do you even start? In this episode, I’ll walk you through 9 puberty changes that every girl or tween with ovaries should hear about – clearly, calmly, and without embarrassment.
Puberty Talk for Non-Binary Kids (Without the Gendered Scripts)
Most puberty advice is written for “boys” or “girls” – but what if your child doesn’t fit neatly into either? This episode walks you through how to talk about puberty in a gender-neutral way – so your child feels safe, supported, and seen.
From too late to TMI: The mistakes that make sex ed harder than it needs to be
Worried you’ve said too much – or not enough? You’re not alone. In this episode, we’ll unpack 6 common sex ed mistakes parents make – and how small tweaks can make things easier and more effective.
“Mum, what’s a…?” How to respond without panicking
You’re halfway through dinner when your child asks, “Mum, what’s a…?” 😳 In this episode, we’ll cover how to answer tricky sex ed questions with calm, honest, age-appropriate replies – no panic (or PhD) required.
When your tween says “Ugh, stop!” – What to do next
You bring up sex ed… and your tween shuts it down. 😳 In this episode, we’ll unpack what to do when convos get awkward, why it’s usually not about you, and how to keep the door open for next time.
From YouTube to group chats: Why tweens need help navigating porn
Most kids don’t go looking for porn – they stumble across it. In this episode, you’ll learn how to talk to your tween about porn calmly and clearly, so they feel safe coming to you (not the internet) with their questions.
Too busy for sex ed? Let’s make it doable
Sex ed doesn’t have to be a big, awkward talk – it can be a quick comment while brushing teeth or walking the dog. In this episode, you’ll learn how to weave sex ed into real life without adding pressure or more to your to-do list.
Raising an autistic tween? Here’s how to talk about sex and puberty
Your child is growing up – but if they’re autistic, typical sex ed advice might not work. In this episode, we’ll explore how to adapt puberty and sex ed talks so they feel clear, calm, and supportive for your child.
Sex ed isn’t over – It’s just getting started!
Think you’ve ticked off the sex ed talk? Not quite. In this episode, we’ll cover why sex ed is an ongoing convo – and how to keep showing up, even when it’s awkward or met with grunts.
Season Two
Welcome to Season 2
In this opening episode, Cath shares what this season is about, why her approach to sex ed changed after diagnosis, and why autistic tweens do not need different sex ed topics — they need sex ed that actually works for them.
Why sex ed feels different when your tween is autistic
If you have ever tried to talk to your autistic tween about sex ed and felt like it just did not land, you are not imagining it. In this episode, Cath unpacks why sex ed often feels different when your child is autistic — and why the problem is usually not the topic, but the teaching.
Why parents of autistic tweens often feel more anxious about sex ed
A lot of parents of autistic tweens carry extra fear, pressure, and responsibility around sex ed — and that anxiety can quietly block the very conversations their child needs. In this episode, Cath looks at the fears that sit underneath the hesitation and how to stop letting fear drive the teaching.
Why one big sex talk usually backfires with autistic tweens
Trying to cover everything in one big conversation can create overload fast — especially for autistic tweens. In this episode, Cath explains why the “big talk” often backfires, why silence does not mean it failed, and what works better instead.
Why autistic tweens often need more detail, not less
A lot of parents get told to keep sex ed light, vague, or minimal. But for autistic tweens, less detail often means more confusion. In this episode, Cath explains why euphemisms and half-rules can make things harder — and how to give clearer information without overwhelming your child.
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Why timing matters more than most parents realise
A lot of parents assume “not now” means “not ready.” But with autistic tweens, timing often matters far more than most people realise. In this episode, Cath unpacks the difference between readiness and availability — and how to stop pushing conversations that need a better entry point.
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What puberty can look like in autistic tweens
Parents often notice behaviour changes before they realise puberty is part of the picture. In this episode, Cath looks at what puberty can actually look like when sensory, body-awareness, and regulation differences are in the mix — and why it is so easy to misread those changes.
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How to talk about puberty without overwhelming your autistic tween
You know you need to talk about puberty, but you do not want to flood your child or turn it into one giant, awkward conversation. In this episode, Cath shows you how to keep puberty talks small, clear, and useful.
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Why privacy rules need to be taught more explicitly
A lot of privacy teaching relies on invisible social rules that kids are expected to just pick up. In this episode, Cath explains why that often fails autistic tweens — and how to teach privacy in a way that is clear, usable, and shame-free.
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How to respond to masturbation without panic or shame
Masturbation is one of those topics that can send parents straight into panic, overthinking, or correction. In this episode, Cath looks at what parents often fear it means, why neutral response matters more than panic, and how to teach privacy without shame.
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Why compliance is not the same as consent
Autistic kids are often misread as consenting when they are actually freezing, complying, or trying to stay safe. In this episode, Cath explains why compliance gets mistaken for agreement, why that is especially risky for autistic tweens, and what to teach instead.
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Why some autistic tweens freeze instead of saying no
Parents are often taught to look for a clear no, but that is not how safety works for many kids under stress. In this episode, Cath explains what freeze can look like, why delayed understanding and later disclosure still count, and how to teach safety in ways that actually fit real bodies under pressure.
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The sex ed shifts that make the biggest difference for autistic tweens
Parents do not need 50 new strategies. They need a few high-impact shifts that make sex ed clearer, safer, and easier for autistic tweens to access. In this final episode, Cath pulls together the biggest changes that actually make a difference.
Looking for more puberty resources? Then visit my Puberty 101 page!
