Parenting school aged children
Sexual Health & Puberty
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Learn about the free and confidential services offered at our Sexual Health Clinics. Including free HPV, Hep B, Hep A, and Mpox vaccines for those who are eligible.
Talking about puberty, sex, and sexuality early can help your child make healthy, responsible choices. As your child grows, they may begin to have questions. Learn about how to prepare for sexual health conversations with your child based on their age or by topic.
Support Your Child’s Sexual Health and Well-Being
Parents and caregivers play a key role in shaping their child’s understanding of sex and relationships. Young people need clear and accurate information to learn how to be safe, responsible, and confident as their bodies change. You can help by providing your child with the knowledge and skills to support their sexual health and well-being.
It’s common to feel unsure or even a bit awkward when starting these conversations. That’s why we’ve put together tips and resources to help you have ongoing, age-appropriate, and positive discussions with your child. Learn more: Eight tips for Parents & Caregivers .
As children grow, learning about their bodies, health, and sexuality is an important part of their development. It’s best to start these conversations early and have ongoing conversations as your child grows up. Children often hear things from friends, media, or school sooner than parents and caregivers expect, so it helps to check in and talk about what they’ve learned. Talking about sexual health does not make youth more likely to have sex—youth who get clear, age-appropriate information usually wait longer to become sexually active.
Learn more about how to talk about sexual health:
- Sexuality: What children should learn and when – a guide for parents and caregivers to understand what children should understand at different ages and stages.
- Sex education for children: Why parents should talk to their children about sex – information on why it is important to begin having sexual health conversations early and as children continue to grow.
Puberty is a phase of development when your child’s body begins to change and take on adult form. It is important for parents and caregivers to learn about puberty so you can support your child through the physical, emotional, sexual, and social changes they may experience.
Learn about puberty and ways to talk about the changes your child may notice:
The school curriculum about health and physical education teaches students how to make responsible choices, build healthy relationships, and support their overall well-being.
Human development and sexual health education goes beyond biology to include topics such as consent, relationships, respect, protection, identity, and body image.
These lessons are age-appropriate, taught with sensitivity, and designed to complement the key role parents and caregivers play at home.
Learn more about your child’s health and physical education school curriculum
- HWDSB | Parent Guide: Health and Physical Education
- Institute for Catholic Education | Parent Guide to Family Life & Ontario Curriculum
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