Talking About Sensitive Issues

Communicating with your children about sensitive issues such as relationships and staying safe is a vital way for them to develop.

Start by talking about something that you both find more comfortable, such as feelings and emotions.
Talking during everyday events like washing up, or watching TV can help to normalise talking about sensitive issues.
Ask your child what their friends think/feel about the issues.
Be prepared to listen rather than focusing on what you want to say.
Ask your child to share their views first, then offer yours if they ask.
It is fine not to know the answer a question that they ask, you can research the issue together.
Make sure that your child knows that they can always talk to you anytime, about anything.

We provide students with safe spaces in school to discuss sensitive issues, and help teach our young people how to communicate. This takes place during spiritual worship and more explicitly, within our PSHCE curriculum, too.

We recognise that it can be difficult to initiate discussion around sensitive issues with young people. Thankfully, help is at hand; there are many excellent resources you can access online. A select few are provided, below:

How to really listen to your child (youngminds.org)How to talk to your child about mental health (youngminds.org)Preventing harmful sexual behaviour (stopitnow.org)

Talking About Sensitive Issues

Talking About Sensitive Issues

Start by talking about something that you both find more comfortable, such as feelings and emotions.

Talking during everyday events like washing up, or watching TV can help to normalise talking about sensitive issues.​

Ask your child what their friends think/feel about the issues.​

Be prepared to listen rather than focusing on what you want to say.​

Ask your child to share their views first, then offer yours if they ask.​

It is fine not to know the answer a question that they ask, you can research the issue together.​

Make sure that your child knows that they can always talk to you anytime, about anything.

Talking during everyday events like washing up, or watching TV can help to normalise talking about sensitive issues.

Ask your child what their friends think/feel about the issues.

Be prepared to listen rather than focusing on what you want to say.

Ask your child to share their views first, then offer yours if they ask.

It is fine not to know the answer a question that they ask, you can research the issue together.