As sex education becomes less available in schools, many children are left at risk of turning to unreliable sources, such as the internet or even pornography, instead of qualified educators, writes Janet Rosenzweig for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Rosenzweig, a Morristown resident and author of The Sex-Wise Parent, who also serves as a senior policy analyst at the Institute for Human Services and a board member of the National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, proposes a simple, cost-free solution: empowering parents to teach their children about sex.

Parent-led sex education is backed by decades of research showing that, among other advantages, children value their parents’ opinions more than parents realize.

When children feel comfortable talking to their parents about sex, they are more likely to make healthier decisions about sexual activity, sexual health, and sexual safety.

Proper sex education also helps protect children from both victimization and becoming perpetrators themselves.

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages anticipatory guidance, which means preparing for what comes next.

Parents should understand the essential facts, but they also need to go beyond the medical details and share their values, to make sure misinformation does not reach their children first.

To learn more about how parents can confidently step into this vital role, read Janet Rosenzweig’s full column in The Philadelphia Inquirer.