how to talk to your child about gender identity
So even if your child doesn’t experience same-sex attraction or gender struggles, they probably know at least one other person who does. They’ll say, … But there is another important goal—discipling children … Gender identity is the personal sense of one's own gender. Some people have both, but that’s pretty rare. Car rides where your kids are sitting in the back seat are a great time to talk. Learn more. People are assigned a gender identity at birth based on their sex. Similarly, the anxiety of talking about race, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation and disability, for example, can come from a lack of communication in our own childhoods. This is different from your sex, which is related to your physical body and biology. I put the language out there and am really bold. Don’t assume that a teen who is questioning and sexually active is automatically having sex with a lot of people or is taking sexual risks in the process. Some people feel like boys but they really like “girl stuff.” Some people feel like girls but they really … Expert answers: How to talk to your children about gender & identity. Unfortunately, adults’ toxic attitudes about gender nonconformity can create real danger for transgender children. Learn how to discuss sexual orientations and gender identities with your kid, and how to support them if they’re LGBTQ. Use your child's questions as teachable moments to expand both your child's understanding and your own. In fact, it's better for kids – and parents – to have multiple conversations about gender identity throughout childhood, into … Explore Topic by Age. To that end, how do we begin to talk about gender identity with children as an ongoing conversation, rather than as an abstract “trans issue”? Most people have either a penis or a vagina. The speed and intensity of the cultural shift towards affirming every type of sexual attraction and gender identity has left many parents struggling to keep up. Here are some of the most common misconceptions about sex, gender, and gender identity, according to experts and parents interviewed for this story. Learn more . Possible treatment options will be discussed, such as talking therapy and treatment with hormone blockers, which will pause puberty while your child thinks through their gender identity. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and gender nonconforming people are a part of every community and beloved members of many families. How people feel about their gender identity … Gender identity is who a person sees themselves as on the gender spectrum (such as female, male, non-binary). Talking to your child about gender identity and sexual orientation can feel overwhelming for parents who aren’t sure where or how to begin the conversation. How to Talk to Your Kids About Gender Identity. It is their sense of being a woman, a man, both, neither or anywhere along the gender spectrum. Sexual orientation is who you think you are attracted to or could see yourself loving. Some interesting things to think about: Everyone has a gender identity … Most people with vaginas feel like girls. Starting a conversation with your kids about gender identity doesn't have to be one big TALK. It’s also a good idea to talk to your child directly about their gender if you think they might be transgender or gender expansive. In the past few years there has been a huge increase in the number of teenagers questioning their gender, whether they feel female, male, non-binary or any of the other diverse terms used on the gender spectrum. A simple way to start is by understanding that there is a difference between biological sex (body parts), gender identity (how someone feels inside), and gender expression (how we choose to show our gender … Most people with penises feel like boys. Dr. Sean McDowell, a renowned Christian Apologist and author of the … One goal, then, is for parents to help their children understand some basic information about LGBTQ identity. Healthy relationships. The solution is very simple: get informed, learn the language and terms, and grow some confidence about the topics. Sexuality and sexual orientation. Organizer from Spectrum Center of Spokane gives advice on how to start conversations about identity at home.