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parents, Muslim and non-Muslim, who share the same views on the topic, and
it is more likely you will be listened to.
There are a lot of non-Muslim parents who are concerned about these issues
and feel as if there is no control, notes Haffajee.
Tip #7: Know the sex education territory
There should be talk about what kind of information they're getting,
preadolescent education, says Haffajee.
Launching a three hour tirade against the evils of public school sex education
will do little good in helping your son or daughter see what's wrong with it.
This is why it is necessary to find out what is included in the sex education
curriculum.
They should find out exactly what the school is teaching, to the point of
even sitting with the person doing the education and finding out about the
values of that person, says Morris. This is a very important issue
Tip #8: Know the Islamic perspective on sex
There is more to sex education than telling your son or daughter don't do it
until you get married.
Topics like menstruation, sexual changes in adolescents, Islamic purity after
various types of uncleanliness associated with sex also have to be discussed.
If you're not sure, get some help from a knowledgeable Muslim or Imam, as
well as a guide for parents (see the review for the book Miracle Of Life.
Be capable of providing exact references from the Quran, Sunnah and valid
Islamic authorities on relevant topics (i.e. birth control, boy/girl relationships,
etc.).
On the same note, if in the course of your conversation your child asks you
something and you are not sure about whether it really is Islamic or not,
CHECK IT OUT. Assuming that a cultural practice relating to sex or boy/girl
relationships is automatically Islamic is a mistake.
Tip #9: Tell your kids you're available to talk to them about sex
This is necessary, especially if sex has been a taboo subject in the household
for so long.
Parents [should] say to their children I want to be your primary source of
information about sex, says Morris.
This makes it clear that while your child may be getting information about sex
from other sources like television, the movies, school and friends, you are the
authoritative source.
This is done best when discussed at a younger age, rather than waiting for
the teen years when rebelliousness usually kicks in and kids are less likely to
listen to parents.
Tip #10: Express your nervousness
It will be hard to talk about sex for many parents. But they should not hide
this from their kids.
Morris recommends parents say, If I sound nervous or uncomfortable just
bear with me, in the course of their conversation.
This stresses the seriousness of the topic and the importance of what you
want to say. The fact that this is so difficult for you, yet you are going forward
with it emphasizes your child's need to listen.
Tip #11: Withdraw your child from sex education but tell them why
There are public schools where sex education is an option, and a child can be
exempted from it.
Haffajee says there are parents, Muslim and non-Muslim who have decided to
choose this instead of having their kids sit through public school sex
education.
But if you do decide to do this, she advises it is important to clearly explain to
your child why this is being done, and to ensure that s/he is being provided
with Islamic sex education in the home.
Otherwise, your child may see it as being excluded from an activity with his
or her friends.
Tip #12: Get help from others
If you feel extremely uncomfortable talking to your kids about it, enlist the
help of a knowledgeable and open Imam or community member who is of the
same gender as your child, to explain the details and provide the guidance.
Other people can be Islamic weekend school teachers, a Muslim social
worker, or a trusted family member like an aunt, uncle or cousin.
Also, get some books for your kids that discuss sex from an Islamic
perspective. Miracle of Life or Ahmad Sakr's The Adolescent Life are some
examples.
However, getting someone else to talk to them or giving them a book is not
the end of the story. As a parent, you have to be ready and open to at least
hear Ameer or Jamila's concerns or questions about sex, so you can direct
them to the right person or information if you are uncomfortable answering
parents, Muslim and non-Muslim, who share the same views on the topic, and
it is more likely you will be listened to.
There are a lot of non-Muslim parents who are concerned about these issues
and feel as if there is no control, notes Haffajee.
Tip #7: Know the sex education territory
There should be talk about what kind of information they're getting,
preadolescent education, says Haffajee.
Launching a three hour tirade against the evils of public school sex education
will do little good in helping your son or daughter see what's wrong with it.
This is why it is necessary to find out what is included in the sex education
curriculum.
They should find out exactly what the school is teaching, to the point of
even sitting with the person doing the education and finding out about the
values of that person, says Morris. This is a very important issue
Tip #8: Know the Islamic perspective on sex
There is more to sex education than telling your son or daughter don't do it
until you get married.
Topics like menstruation, sexual changes in adolescents, Islamic purity after
various types of uncleanliness associated with sex also have to be discussed.
If you're not sure, get some help from a knowledgeable Muslim or Imam, as
well as a guide for parents (see the review for the book Miracle Of Life.
Be capable of providing exact references from the Quran, Sunnah and valid
Islamic authorities on relevant topics (i.e. birth control, boy/girl relationships,
etc.).
On the same note, if in the course of your conversation your child asks you
something and you are not sure about whether it really is Islamic or not,
CHECK IT OUT. Assuming that a cultural practice relating to sex or boy/girl
relationships is automatically Islamic is a mistake.
Tip #9: Tell your kids you're available to talk to them about sex
This is necessary, especially if sex has been a taboo subject in the household
for so long.
Parents [should] say to their children I want to be your primary source of
information about sex, says Morris.
This makes it clear that while your child may be getting information about sex
from other sources like television, the movies, school and friends, you are the
authoritative source.
This is done best when discussed at a younger age, rather than waiting for
the teen years when rebelliousness usually kicks in and kids are less likely to
listen to parents.
Tip #10: Express your nervousness
It will be hard to talk about sex for many parents. But they should not hide
this from their kids.
Morris recommends parents say, If I sound nervous or uncomfortable just
bear with me, in the course of their conversation.
This stresses the seriousness of the topic and the importance of what you
want to say. The fact that this is so difficult for you, yet you are going forward
with it emphasizes your child's need to listen.
Tip #11: Withdraw your child from sex education but tell them why
There are public schools where sex education is an option, and a child can be
exempted from it.
Haffajee says there are parents, Muslim and non-Muslim who have decided to
choose this instead of having their kids sit through public school sex
education.
But if you do decide to do this, she advises it is important to clearly explain to
your child why this is being done, and to ensure that s/he is being provided
with Islamic sex education in the home.
Otherwise, your child may see it as being excluded from an activity with his
or her friends.
Tip #12: Get help from others
If you feel extremely uncomfortable talking to your kids about it, enlist the
help of a knowledgeable and open Imam or community member who is of the
same gender as your child, to explain the details and provide the guidance.
Other people can be Islamic weekend school teachers, a Muslim social
worker, or a trusted family member like an aunt, uncle or cousin.
Also, get some books for your kids that discuss sex from an Islamic
perspective. Miracle of Life or Ahmad Sakr's The Adolescent Life are some
examples.
However, getting someone else to talk to them or giving them a book is not
the end of the story. As a parent, you have to be ready and open to at least
hear Ameer or Jamila's concerns or questions about sex, so you can direct