Talking to Your Kids About HIV/AIDS

Parents know how important it is to talk to their children. They do not deny how difficult it may be to talk about certain topics. No matter what the difficulty level may seem to be, never neglect having that very important talk. Many parents talk to their children about HIV and AIDS. Every year, 3 million teenagers contract a sexually transmitted disease, 25 percent of new HIV infection in the United States occur in people under the age of 22. By informing your children the statistics and facts about this disease can help curtail the spread of disease.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies have set forth guidelines to help parents talk to their children about HIV/AIDS. First, think about the information you want to get across to your child. Age, previous knowledge and influences, and religious values should be taken into consideration. You may not talk to same way to a 13 year old as you may an 18 year old. Gather together information about HIV and AIDS from doctors and read newsletters so all the information you tell them in 100% accurate. Create opportunities to bring up the topic. Often times the news, school assignments or even community events can help spark the conversation.

If you feel uncomfortable about talking to your child, be honest and admit it. Most likely, if you feel nervous, so does your child. By admitting you are nervous this can open the way for positive communication. The talk should be a conversation, not a lecture. If you have a critical tone, you may put your child on the defensive. You do not want a “wall” up between the two of you. When talking to your child about this, discuss the different types of peer pressure and where it can come from. Encourage your child to use their own sound judgment and to never do anything they know is wrong. Parents can make a huge impact on their children’s life. Parents should never take for granted the power and positive influence they can have over their children.