Christian parents, are you wondering how to have "the sex talk" with your school-age sons and daughters? Merrill and Linda delve deeply into this question, offering candid insights in the latest Rock Solid Families episode. They underscore the urgency of addressing this subject, especially as kids today encounter sexual content far earlier than past generations. The episode spotlights the need for accurate terminology and the emphasis on principles of modesty and self-respect. Beyond just discussions on physical intimacy, the duo highlights the profound importance of instilling an understanding of one's identity in Christ and the inherent value this brings.
With the ever-growing influence of media and the internet, Linda and Merrill tackle the difficulties Christian parents encounter. They advocate for vigilant monitoring of what children consume online, co-watching television shows and observing your children when they are gaming as a way to protect your children from inappropriate content. These co-watching moments also create a space where open teaching dialogue can happen naturally. Crucially, the couple stresses the role of parents as role models, exemplifying respect across genders and assisting their children in discerning the eternal wisdom of God from the things they may see and hear in the world.
In essence, this episode is a great resource for parents who are continuing the conversation of sexuality with their maturing children (be sure to check out Part 1 of this series, episode 250, if you have younger children or if you need to revisit foundational topics you may have missed). 

Key Takeaways:

• Adopt clear, age-appropriate language when discussing sex with older children.
• Reinforce lessons on self-worth, modesty, and mutual respect, grounded in their identity in God.
• Actively supervise media exposure and encourage open discussions about content.
• Serve as exemplary figures, displaying respect and guiding children in contrasting God's word from worldly views.
• Equip kids with a robust Christian foundation to confidently face contemporary challenges.

Quotes:

• "We really have to approach it differently than our parents did. We have to not put our head in the sand and pretend like this is not happening because it is." (02:03 | Linda Hutchinson)
• "This is that time where your kids are going to get their first look, their first hear, of different things that are related to sex." (02:37 | Merrill Hutchinson)
• "It is near to impossible to keep your children from being exposed. And so you've got to get ahead of it and decide, OK, I want my children to learn the right thing at the right time and hear it from us instead of the kid down the street." (00:06:14 | Linda Hutchinson) Quote
• "And this is where at these elementary ages, where boys and girls are starting to recognize that there is a difference between boys and girls. And so this is where us as parents really want to start talking and teaching about modesty, about protecting your own private parts and about protecting and being aware of those with others. And so this is when we're actually having talks at these early elementary ages of, your private parts are yours and you're not to allow other people to touch them without your parents present and you're not to touch others." (16:11 | Merrill Hutchinson)
• "Finally, teaching your children to discern between what his word, God's word,

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