From the Orcas Island Prevention Partnership:

Talking about sex with your child can be uncomfortable. But it’s important. To be more prepared and comfortable parents, caregivers, professionals, and adult friends of pre-teens and teens are invited to attend “Understanding Your Teen’s Sexuality” on Tuesday, May 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Orcas School Library.

Tracy Dahlstedt, a Community Health Educator from Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood, will facilitate what is guaranteed to be an interesting and worthwhile discussion on teen sexuality and how parents and adults can communicate more effectively with teens and preadolescents. Dahlstedt will explore what youth want to know and what they should know when it comes to sexuality education. She’ll talk about the developmental timeline, how to answer challenging questions, and help parents understand the issues teen face.

Virtually everyone agrees that parents and caregivers should be the primary sexuality educators of their children—even children themselves. When parents don’t talk about sexuality, peers and the media become the primary sources of information for many of America’s children – sources that often lead to inaccurate or inadequate information.

Orcas High School students will also participate.

The Middle School Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser has also been scheduled this evening. So parents can come and support the fundraiser at an early sitting and then attend this event which is sponsored by Orcas Island Prevention Partnership. For further information, call 376-1547.