Resources to prep you for "the talk" and beyond
Some parents have found the following books fruitful according to one resource, and I'm copying and pasting it here for your own families:
The American Girl Library. The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls. American Girl Publishing Inc., 1998. ISBN: 978-1562476663.
This guide answers all the questions growing girls have about their bodies—from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bra buying, pimples to periods. It offers guidance about basic hygiene and health without addressing issues of sexuality.
Comment: “While it's not a perfect book, we found it to be very helpful. I remember looking at it the first time and thinking, "Oh dear....no, no, no...." because of some cartoon illustrations in there having to do with certain and very specific information and "how-tos" regarding a young girl's physical development as well as beginning her monthly cycle. To make a long story short, I can just tell you that while not every mother might agree with me, on further reflection I became convinced that there likely wasn't a better way to impart this information. I got over my initial negative opinion and have since recommended the book again and again. For sure it's a book that mother and daughter should go over together, and that's just what my girls and I did on our special overnight.”
Note: Regarding puberty for girls this book can be helpful with parental discretion due to some of the graphic material.
Taylor, Kenneth. Almost 12. Tyndale House Publishers, 1995. ISBN: 978-0842310710.
Author Kenneth Taylor gives parents a successful and important tool for teaching their children about the wonders of human reproduction. Written to be read page-by-page with a child, Almost 12 follows the progress of human life from conception to birth, highlighting key facts and important moral values. With its question-and-answer section, art, photography, and easy-to-read format, children ages 10–12 will discover the miracle of birth in an effective and non-threatening way. Revised and updated for a new generation, Almost 12 also contains a new chapter to discuss premarital sex and sexually transmitted diseases.
Comment: “This little book is an excellent resource for both boys and girls and it is written from a Christian perspective. The book is intended to be read by the child and makes difficult terms and concepts simple to understand. One caution is that some of the pictures in the book will require a parent to discern whether their child is mature enough to view them. It would be a great resource for a parent and child to read and discuss together.”
Note: Regarding puberty and reproduction this book can be helpful with parental discretion due to some of the graphic material.
Elliot, Elisabeth. Passion and Purity: Learning to Bring Your Love Life under Christ’s Control. Baker Publishing Group, 2002. ISBN: 978-0800758189.
Elisabeth Elliot's story centers around one pivotal question: "Does God want everything?" Her
emphatic answer--"Yes"--is what makes Passion and Purity the foremost Christian book on dating ever written. Based on stories, journal entries, and letters chronicling her own five-year
courtship with Jim Elliot, she gives frank advice, scriptural directives, and compassionate examples of what it means to follow Christ in the midst of heartache and impatience. The perfect antidote for those who flounder in the thinking that "the Bible doesn't say anything about dating," Elliot's short chapters are filled with nuggets of wisdom that spell out exactly the opposite.
Note: For mature teens.
Elliot, Elisabeth. Let Me Be a Woman. Tyndale Publishing House, 1999. ISBN: 978-
0842321624.
“In order to learn what it means to be a woman, we must start with the One who made her.” Working from Scripture, Elisabeth Elliot shares her observations and experiences in a number of essays on what it means to be a Christian woman, whether single, married, or widowed.
Note: For mature teens.
Harris, Josh. I Kissed Dating Goodbye. Multnomah Books, 2003. ISBN: 978-1590521359.
While most Christians agree to seek purity and save sex for marriage, few have been given a blueprint for how that should affect their view of dating and love. In I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Joshua Harris exposes the "Seven Habits of Highly Defective Dating" and offers a realistic outline of how to have a biblical vision of marriage. Harris contends that one must begin with a new attitude, viewing love, purity, and singleness from God's perspective rather than thinking that love and romance are to be enjoyed "solely for recreation."
Note: For mature teens regarding courting for the purpose of marriage.
Harris, Joshua. Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is): Sexual Purity in a Lust-Saturated World (formerly titled Not Even a Hint). Multnomah Books, 2005. ISBN: 978-1590525197.
Lust isn't just a guy problem—it's a human problem. And unless we honestly confront it, lust will destroy our relationships and our lives. Joshua Harris calls a generation bombarded with images of sexual sin back to the freedom and joy of holiness. This "PG-rated" book—straightforward without being graphic—speaks to those entrenched in lust or just flirting with temptation. Honestly sharing his own struggles, Harris exposes lust's tactics and helps readers create a personal plan for fighting back. Men and women will find hope in God's grace and learn the secrets to lasting change.
Note: For mature teens regarding courting for the purpose of marriage.
Rainey, Dennis & Barbara. Passport2Purity. Family Life Publishing, 2003. ISBN: 978-
1572296565.
Teaching kids about the facts of life is so much more than just "the birds and the bees." It is surely one of the most awkward parts of parenting - especially in today's permissive society. Family Life founders Dennis and Barbara Rainey have created a fun, non-threatening way to
connect with your children while teaching them godly principles of sexuality with the Passport2Purity program, a weekend getaway that will be life-changing for both of you.
Note: This is an excellent resource that contains 5 CD’s to help parents teach their preteens about sex in the form of an interactive weekend retreat.
Gresh, Bob with Dannah Gresh. Who Moved the Goalpost? 7 Winning Strategies in the Sexual
Integrity Gameplan. Moody Publishers, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802483317.
TV, the movies, and the radio bombard young adults with sexual temptations. Constantly
tempted to experiment with sex, many youth wonder if it is really worth staying pure. In Who
Moved the Goal Post? Bob Gresh helps young men understand the benefits of abstinence. He
dismantles the lies regarding sex that Satan has told the world and replaces it with the truth of
God. Using sports analogies that young men easily identify with, he also lays down a game plan
for a healthy, pure relationship.
Note: This resource is in a workbook format which enables father and son to practically frame a
biblical, step-by-step, game plan together for sexual purity and victory.
Dannah Gresh. And the Bride Wore White: Seven Secrets to Sexual Purity. Moody Publishers,
2004. ISBN: 978-0802483447.
Dannah Gresh challenges young women to set and maintain high standards, to value their virginity and to make a commitment to Christ for a sexually pure lifestyle.
Note: This book is enjoyable for preteens to read, and extremely helpful for mothers to use in
teaching their daughters how to live a biblical lifestyle of purity.
www.nanc.org
Note: Please utilize this website to confer with the National Association for Nouthetic Counsel-
ing (NANC). The site offers excellent books and resources on parenting, sex, and marriage. Sim-
ply visit www.nanc.org and click on “resources,” then on “books,” and type in the keyword
“parenting.”
The American Girl Library. The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls. American Girl Publishing Inc., 1998. ISBN: 978-1562476663.
This guide answers all the questions growing girls have about their bodies—from hair care to healthy eating, bad breath to bra buying, pimples to periods. It offers guidance about basic hygiene and health without addressing issues of sexuality.
Comment: “While it's not a perfect book, we found it to be very helpful. I remember looking at it the first time and thinking, "Oh dear....no, no, no...." because of some cartoon illustrations in there having to do with certain and very specific information and "how-tos" regarding a young girl's physical development as well as beginning her monthly cycle. To make a long story short, I can just tell you that while not every mother might agree with me, on further reflection I became convinced that there likely wasn't a better way to impart this information. I got over my initial negative opinion and have since recommended the book again and again. For sure it's a book that mother and daughter should go over together, and that's just what my girls and I did on our special overnight.”
Note: Regarding puberty for girls this book can be helpful with parental discretion due to some of the graphic material.
Taylor, Kenneth. Almost 12. Tyndale House Publishers, 1995. ISBN: 978-0842310710.
Author Kenneth Taylor gives parents a successful and important tool for teaching their children about the wonders of human reproduction. Written to be read page-by-page with a child, Almost 12 follows the progress of human life from conception to birth, highlighting key facts and important moral values. With its question-and-answer section, art, photography, and easy-to-read format, children ages 10–12 will discover the miracle of birth in an effective and non-threatening way. Revised and updated for a new generation, Almost 12 also contains a new chapter to discuss premarital sex and sexually transmitted diseases.
Comment: “This little book is an excellent resource for both boys and girls and it is written from a Christian perspective. The book is intended to be read by the child and makes difficult terms and concepts simple to understand. One caution is that some of the pictures in the book will require a parent to discern whether their child is mature enough to view them. It would be a great resource for a parent and child to read and discuss together.”
Note: Regarding puberty and reproduction this book can be helpful with parental discretion due to some of the graphic material.
Elliot, Elisabeth. Passion and Purity: Learning to Bring Your Love Life under Christ’s Control. Baker Publishing Group, 2002. ISBN: 978-0800758189.
Elisabeth Elliot's story centers around one pivotal question: "Does God want everything?" Her
emphatic answer--"Yes"--is what makes Passion and Purity the foremost Christian book on dating ever written. Based on stories, journal entries, and letters chronicling her own five-year
courtship with Jim Elliot, she gives frank advice, scriptural directives, and compassionate examples of what it means to follow Christ in the midst of heartache and impatience. The perfect antidote for those who flounder in the thinking that "the Bible doesn't say anything about dating," Elliot's short chapters are filled with nuggets of wisdom that spell out exactly the opposite.
Note: For mature teens.
Elliot, Elisabeth. Let Me Be a Woman. Tyndale Publishing House, 1999. ISBN: 978-
0842321624.
“In order to learn what it means to be a woman, we must start with the One who made her.” Working from Scripture, Elisabeth Elliot shares her observations and experiences in a number of essays on what it means to be a Christian woman, whether single, married, or widowed.
Note: For mature teens.
Harris, Josh. I Kissed Dating Goodbye. Multnomah Books, 2003. ISBN: 978-1590521359.
While most Christians agree to seek purity and save sex for marriage, few have been given a blueprint for how that should affect their view of dating and love. In I Kissed Dating Goodbye, Joshua Harris exposes the "Seven Habits of Highly Defective Dating" and offers a realistic outline of how to have a biblical vision of marriage. Harris contends that one must begin with a new attitude, viewing love, purity, and singleness from God's perspective rather than thinking that love and romance are to be enjoyed "solely for recreation."
Note: For mature teens regarding courting for the purpose of marriage.
Harris, Joshua. Sex Is Not the Problem (Lust Is): Sexual Purity in a Lust-Saturated World (formerly titled Not Even a Hint). Multnomah Books, 2005. ISBN: 978-1590525197.
Lust isn't just a guy problem—it's a human problem. And unless we honestly confront it, lust will destroy our relationships and our lives. Joshua Harris calls a generation bombarded with images of sexual sin back to the freedom and joy of holiness. This "PG-rated" book—straightforward without being graphic—speaks to those entrenched in lust or just flirting with temptation. Honestly sharing his own struggles, Harris exposes lust's tactics and helps readers create a personal plan for fighting back. Men and women will find hope in God's grace and learn the secrets to lasting change.
Note: For mature teens regarding courting for the purpose of marriage.
Rainey, Dennis & Barbara. Passport2Purity. Family Life Publishing, 2003. ISBN: 978-
1572296565.
Teaching kids about the facts of life is so much more than just "the birds and the bees." It is surely one of the most awkward parts of parenting - especially in today's permissive society. Family Life founders Dennis and Barbara Rainey have created a fun, non-threatening way to
connect with your children while teaching them godly principles of sexuality with the Passport2Purity program, a weekend getaway that will be life-changing for both of you.
Note: This is an excellent resource that contains 5 CD’s to help parents teach their preteens about sex in the form of an interactive weekend retreat.
Gresh, Bob with Dannah Gresh. Who Moved the Goalpost? 7 Winning Strategies in the Sexual
Integrity Gameplan. Moody Publishers, 2001. ISBN: 978-0802483317.
TV, the movies, and the radio bombard young adults with sexual temptations. Constantly
tempted to experiment with sex, many youth wonder if it is really worth staying pure. In Who
Moved the Goal Post? Bob Gresh helps young men understand the benefits of abstinence. He
dismantles the lies regarding sex that Satan has told the world and replaces it with the truth of
God. Using sports analogies that young men easily identify with, he also lays down a game plan
for a healthy, pure relationship.
Note: This resource is in a workbook format which enables father and son to practically frame a
biblical, step-by-step, game plan together for sexual purity and victory.
Dannah Gresh. And the Bride Wore White: Seven Secrets to Sexual Purity. Moody Publishers,
2004. ISBN: 978-0802483447.
Dannah Gresh challenges young women to set and maintain high standards, to value their virginity and to make a commitment to Christ for a sexually pure lifestyle.
Note: This book is enjoyable for preteens to read, and extremely helpful for mothers to use in
teaching their daughters how to live a biblical lifestyle of purity.
www.nanc.org
Note: Please utilize this website to confer with the National Association for Nouthetic Counsel-
ing (NANC). The site offers excellent books and resources on parenting, sex, and marriage. Sim-
ply visit www.nanc.org and click on “resources,” then on “books,” and type in the keyword
“parenting.”
