Jason A. Caffey, retired NBA player, and Dr. Nadine Pierre-Louis, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Human Growth and Development Educator, use entertaining and engaging storytelling to help you get the important points across when talking to your son. Their new book, Richard and the Boyz: Puberty Experience, provides helpful information to prevent making the "talk" awkward and stressful. You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon.
Here are a few pointers Jason Caffey and Dr. Pierre-Louis shared:
- Don’t have one big “talk”
It makes everyone uncomfortable. Instead, have a series of “small talks.” Break the subject down into small bite size pieces delivered over time. - Tell stories
Kids can be defensive, so don’t begin with direct questions. Talk about someone else’s story or a news article. Eventually they will share theirs. - Normalize the topic
Fill in your own information gaps so you’re comfortable. You don’t need to be an expert. Use books or articles that you can discuss together. Children will mirror your approach. - Make it relatable
It’s okay to share from your experiences or that of your friends when you were their age - even the myths. It makes it easier for them to share what they’re hearing. It’s important to avoid being judgmental. Just talk it through.
For more information, visit their website at richardntheboyz.com. Or you can follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.