Not every parent or guardian has a Dr. Sue in their back pocket when questions about sex or sex health. And yet, kids are curious, their questions are valid, and the way adults respond can shape how they understand bodies, consent, and relationships for years to come.

In this episode of Unzipping Taboos, we call in both compassion and responsibility: What does it mean to give children honest, age-appropriate answers without shame? How do we dismantle outdated, fear-based approaches and replace them with respect, trust, and curiosity? We explore how parents or caregivers can step into the role of safe, trusted guides—even if they never got this kind of guidance themselves.

We also share practical tools and resources—like amaze.org and state-by-state curriculum guides—to help parents prepare for conversations that may happen anywhere, anytime: at the dinner table, in the car, or while watching TV together. At the heart of it all, we emphasize honesty, boundaries, and respect—because kids don’t just need facts, they need adults willing to listen and talk without shame.

To find out how your state scores on sex education, check out the SIECUS State Profiles 

If you want to see an overview for the requirements for sex education for your state, including requirements for parental notification check out Guttmacher’s State Laws and Policies

For resources for parents/caregivers to learn how to talk to kids about sex, check out amaze’s website

If you have a story, thoughts and/or a topic or question for Dr. Sue and Charlie please share your ideas here:  ⁠Show suggestions