Sex Education Resources for Parents: A Comprehensive Guide
There are lots of wonderful sex education resources available on the internet, but the greatest challenge for parents is to find them!
So I have compiled a list if my favourite resources from around the internet, onto this page! They are listed in alphabetical order, and broken up into resources for parents, children and teenagers.
You can also find even more helpful information about sex education on my Sex Education 101 page.
I’ll let you get started!
PLEASE NOTE: Puberty resources and online porn & internet safety resources are all hosted on their own pages. So you won’t find any resources on those topics, on this page.
Sex education resources for parents
Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Guidelines K-12 – A USA resource from SIECUS that provides a framework of key concepts and messages that all sexuality education programs would ideally include.
International technical Guidance on Sexuality Education: An evidence-informed approach – Revised in 2018, this document provides international guidance on sex education from UNESCO, UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women & WHO. This document is what most sex education programs (including everything from Sex Ed Rescue) are governed by.
Relationships and Sex Education: The Evidence – The Sex Education Forum in the UK updated their briefing in November 20222, of the latest research evidence relating to relationships and sex education. There is a full 14 page briefing as well as a quick one-page summary. This is the resource I first turn to when I am looking for evidence myself.
Raising Children Network– An Australian parenting website that has fantastic information about sex education and child sexual development for newborns, babies, toddlers, preschoolers, school age, pre-teens and teens. I was quite surprised at how good their sex ed information is!
Sensoa Flag System – A resource from Flanders and Brussels in the EU, that would have to be my favourite resource about child sexual development and problematic sexual behaviours.
Talk Soon Talk Often: A Guide for Parents for Talking to Their Kids About Sex – An Australian resource from the Western Australian Government (Department of Health)), a sex education guide and website for parents. It is practical and simplifies sex education into something parents can easily implement. I love this resource that is now in its second edition!
Teaching Sexual Health.ca – A Canadian government resource that has great information for parents about sex education, including child sexual development. This website is a favourite of mine as I like their comprehensive approach to child sexual development.
Find practical tools to educate kids about sex education in the Sex Ed Shop
Sex education resources for children
There’s not much for the under 14 age group. It is just too risky as it’ll attract the attention of the anti-sex edders, so most organisations will avoid this age group.
Body Talk – An Australian website from Family Planning NSW that has been created for tweens and young teens with information about puberty, relationships, STIs, contraception and more. and more.
KidsHealth (Nemours) – A USA website that has age-appropriate information for children on a wide range of different topics including bodies, body parts, puberty, sexuality and more.
Kids Helpline – An Australian website for children aged from 5-12, teens aged from 13-17, and young people aged from 18-25 years of age. This is a free helpline, but it has a website that is filled with lots of age-appropriate information for children about lots of different topics, including puberty, body image, consent and many more topics that fall under the umbrella of sex education. More people need to know about this resource, as it is brilliant!
Sex education resources for teenagers
These resources have been created for teenagers aged 14+ years.
BISH – An English website that has fantastic information for teens aged 14+.
Body Talk – An Australian website from Family Planning NSW that has been created for tweens and young teens with information about puberty, relationships, STIs, contraception and more. and more.
Info for Young People – A list of Australian resources that have been curated by Vanessa Hamilton from Talking The Talk Healthy Sexuality Education.
In the Know – A New Zealand resource for 13+ teens that educates them about online porn.
Kids Helpline – An Australian website for children aged from 5-12, teens aged from 13-17, and young people aged from 18-25 years of age. This is a free helpline, but it has a website that is filled with lots of age-appropriate information for young people about lots of different topics, including puberty, body image, consent and many more topics that fall under the umbrella of sex education. More people need to know about this resource, as it is brilliant!
Rosie – An Australian online space for young women and gender diverse people. It’s like having a trusted friend or older sibling to turn to with tricky questions you might have about body image, puberty, sexuality, consent, sexual health, contraception and more.
Scarleteen – An American website that has information for older teens about sexuality.
KidsHealth (Nemours) – A USA website that has age-appropriate information for teens on a wide range of different topics including puberty, birth control, STIs and more.
The Line – An Australian site that helps young people (14+) have healthy, happy and respectful relationships, and avoid behaviours that hurt, intimidate or diminish others. They have content for parents and it is essential reading for all parents of teens!
What’s OK? – A free American site that is both a website and a helpline that offers free confidential support and resources to youth and young adults (ages 14-21) with concerns about their own or a friend’s sexual thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. This is a site that gives them answers to questions they would usually be too ashamed to ask. These are some of their most common questions and I think all teens should know it exists:
- Is this normal sexual behavior? Is it safe?
- Is what I’m attracted to “normal”?
- What do I do if my sexual behaviors have harmed someone?
- What do I do if I’m worried about someone else’s sexual interests or behaviors?
- What kind of help is available if I’m struggling with safe sexual behaviors or worried about my attractions?
- Where can I find help if I’ve been sexually abused?
- How can I stay safe in online relationships?
- How do I ask for help?
Even more sex education resources from the Sex Ed Shop
You can find even more sex education resources from the Sex Ed Shop!
Bodies
If you’re looking for a comprehensive resource on bodies, check out The Parents’ Guide to Private Body Parts. It’ll help you to teach your child how to talk about all parts of our bodies in a down-to-earth, anatomical, respectful way.
If you’re looking for age-appropriate illustrations of bodies, then have a look at my anatomically correct cartoon illustrations. It includes over 30 pages of both adult and child bodies and bits, and comes with a detailed parent guide on how to use the illustrations and what to talk about.
If craft is more your thing, then you might enjoy my Make your own 3D genitals. It includes step-by-step instructions to make a 3D model of a vulva, clitoris, penis and anus.
Another fun craft activity is my Paper Dolls & Superheroes. Cut, colour and start natural, shame-free conversations about body and gender diversity.
I also have a crash course for parents, Body Curiosity and Inappropriate Touching, where I do a deeper dive into how to manage children when they are curious about genitals.
Need to explain where babies come from… or what sex is… but not sure where to begin?
Whether your child is asking how babies are made, what sex means, or how the sperm gets to the egg – it can be hard to know what to say (or how much to say).
That’s exactly what The Parents’ Guide to Explaining Sex is for.
This warm, illustrated guide walks you through all of it – from the simple “where did I come from?” to the more direct “what is sex?” – in 5 age-appropriate steps. You’ll get language that’s clear but not overwhelming, illustrations to support your explanation, and prompts to help you feel prepared (not panicked).
Perfect for your first conversation about sex – whether it starts with a book, a big question, or just plain curiosity.
Looking for practical tools to handhold you through your child’s sex ed journey?
Then visit the Sex Ed Shop! As you’ll find lots of different resources to help you get started with sex education!
Looking for more sex education resources? Then visit my Sex Education 101 page!
I hope that helps you with teaching sex education at home.
Happy talking!
❤️ Cath