April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month→

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April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

Helping Survivors* is an organization on a mission to help heal, educate, and empower people who have been impacted by sexual assault and abuse. They have provided us with a really important resource addressing the difficult topic of child sexual abuse.


Key Takeaways

  • While child sexual abuse can happen to anyone and be perpetrated by anyone, it often occurs with someone the child knows and can take many forms

  • Child sexual abuse often occurs after building trust or grooming a child and the abuse can span over years, often starting subtly

  • Survivors of childhood sexual abuse have rights and options, and many states are lifting or expanding the statute of limitations

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Bodily Autonomy is a Fundamental Human Right

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Bodily Autonomy is a Fundamental Human Right

We help children develop an understanding of autonomy so that they recognize that they are unique, independent and capable.

Children have a right to live free from physical acts, such as touch, to which they do not consent. And to reinforce the right to bodily autonomy in all the spaces that children exist, we make it clear to the parents, caregivers and educators that bodily autonomy requires respecting boundaries, affirmative consent, and self-defined personal comfort with affectionate touch.

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Enthusiastic Consent…why is it so hard to find in contemporary media?

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Enthusiastic Consent…why is it so hard to find in contemporary media?

Consent, or permission/agreement for something to happen, is one of our favorite topics to cover in More Than Sex-Ed programs. We use consent in our daily lives; it’s More Than just interactions in sex (see what we did there?)

You can get involved! We are looking for examples of ENTHUSIASTIC, informed, freely given consent in modern media. These can come from your favorite movies, TV shows, music videos (preferably something we can cite in a clip) and more. We will post some of our favorites on our social media during mid-late March, so keep an eye out!

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Comprehensive Sex-Ed? Elementary, My Dear!

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Comprehensive Sex-Ed? Elementary, My Dear!

“Sex-ed that starts in kindergarten” sounds alarming to some people. Which is a shame, because the reality is absolutely wholesome and adorable. We talk about different kinds of families, messages about gender, keeping our bodies clean and healthy, setting boundaries to stay safe, and standing up for yourself. They’re the same messages that most parents and educators tell us they want to reinforce continually as children grow.

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Auntie Lou is a cheek pincher. Nobody wants to sit next to her at Thanksgiving.→

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Auntie Lou is a cheek pincher. Nobody wants to sit next to her at Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is coming! Grammy, Grandpop! Aunties, Uncles, Cousins! Yay! We love those big, boisterous family and friend gatherings! Hugs and all the feels throughout the winter holiday season! Yay! Right? Of course we want our kids to have warm and loving relationships in our circle of friends and family. Of course we want Auntie Lou and all our venerable elders to feel honored and respected at these important get-togethers. But,

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"Everybody, Every Body": More Than Sex-Ed Publishes Our First Book!

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"Everybody, Every Body": More Than Sex-Ed Publishes Our First Book!

More than Sex-Ed is proud to say we are publishing a perfect read-aloud book for children and their favorite adults. With your help we can get this book out in the new year!

“Everybody, Every Body” is a colorful picture book that explores what it means to live in a body, and celebrates—in a child-friendly way—the range of wonderful feelings and experiences our bodies can give us.  It also gently nudges adult readers to support their child’s developing sense of bodily autonomy, consent, and the right to personal space. 

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From the Huffington Post: "How Sex Educators Talk to Their Sons About Consent"→

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From the Huffington Post: "How Sex Educators Talk to Their Sons About Consent"

It is abundantly clear that as a society we still have lots of work to do on the topic of Consent. 

We really love this article by Caroline Bologna in the Huffington Post: "How Sex Educators Talk to Their Sons About Consent", and highly recommend you give it a read.

No matter the gender of the kids you may or may not have, the advice is spot on. Here's a couple of important points:

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From a Class on Consent, a Moment to Treasure

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From a Class on Consent, a Moment to Treasure

One boy in the circle had a deeply thoughtful expression on his face. 

 Eyebrows knit together, he raised his hand.

“So . . . if you ask somebody if they want to have sex, and they say no . . . can you still say, like, ‘ok, do you want to cuddle?’ Like, is that okay?”

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Puberty: It's Perfectly Normal and Other Book Recommendations

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One of our core values here at More Than Sex-ed is that "knowledge is power and kids have the right to have their questions answered."

For parents who are having trouble starting the dialogue on this topic, here are some book recommendations that make it easier to begin that conversation.  

"It's Perfectly Normal" by Robie Harris is a critically acclaimed book that "offers young people the real information they need to make responsible decisions that can help them stay healthy as they approach and experience puberty and adolescence." 

Another great title is "Will Puberty Last My Whole Life?" by Julie Metzger, RN, MN, and Robert Lehman, MD . This flip book offers "Straightforward, age-appropriate answers to REAL questions from preteens." 

Lastly, "Sex is a Funny Word" by Corey Silverberg has been described by Buzzfeed as "A Total Game-Changer" and "nothing short of revolutionary."  The text discusses not only puberty but consent, gender identity and body norms.   

Look for these books at your local bookstore or online vendor!  Tune in next week for more book recommendations on the topic of Puberty.