Set healthy boundaries. Set appropriate boundaries of modesty for what your kids are allowed to wear, and teach them that this is an important part of respecting their bodies. Set boundaries on the types of media your kids are allowed to watch or listen to, and explain that it's an important part of respecting their minds. As your kids show you that you can trust them to make wise decisions, give them more personal freedoms and responsibilities.
Make your home the center of your kids' activities. Whenever possible, have your kids spend time at home. Before you allow them to go out, make sure you know exactly where they will be going and who they will be with. Get to know their friends (and their friends' parents) well.
Keep puppy love in perspective. Remember that puppy love is a common part of growing up. Don't make more of it than it is, and guide your smitten kids into healthy friendships that will keep them from putting too much emphasis on a crush.
Make your kids your heroes. Let your kids know what specific talents and character traits you admire about them. Catch them doing something right as often as you can. Say, "I believe in you," "I trust you," and "I think the best of you." Then they won't be nearly as likely as some other kids to seek adulation through a sexual relationship.
Focus on each kid's emotional - not chronological - age. Realize that each child is different. Understand that each of your kids may have different paces at which they're emotionally ready to hear and absorb information about sex. Don't give them more information than they can handle at a certain age, but don't withhold information simply because you don't want them to grow up - they will, and there's no stopping it.
Use common household items to illustrate your points. Understand that kids learn best with concise information presented in a few sentences, with concrete, hands-on illustrations. Whenever possible, use an object to show what you're talking about (such as an almond when describing the female ovary).
Get feedback from your kids. Have your kids respond to what you've told them so you can know whether or not they've understood what you've said. If they haven't, clarify your points.
Use your experience to help foresee potential problems. Be on the lookout for suspicious situations and unhealthy relationships in your kids' lives. Add the benefit of your life experience to your kids' naïvete.
Wrap all conversations in the right context: marriage. Whenever you're discussing sex, emphasize that it's designed to take place only between a husband and wife. Stress how wonderful sex is between two people who have made a lifetime commitment to each other, and mention how awkward, painful, and disappointing it is between those who have not made such a commitment.
