Call for 'everyday' sex education

The government is urging parents to talk more openly to their children about sex.

A study commissioned by the Department for Children, Schools and Families as part of its 'everyday conversations every day' campaign calls for parents to start discussing sex and relationships when children are about 11.

The research published on Thursday said that parents should talk to children between the ages of 11 and 14, claiming that  parents have less influence once a teenager reaches 15.

It found that three quarters wanted to talk to their parents, but one-in-five parents said they found it a challenging subject to approach.

Some 44 per cent of teenagers did not trust information from friends, and a quarter felt worried or scared that they had been given the wrong information.

Report author Anita Naik said such conversations could help prevent teenage pregnancies.

"Teenagers unanimously agree that parents who speak to them about sex are in no way encouraging them to go out and do it," she said.

"In fact the opposite is true - having everyday conversations as often as possible about sex and relationships is proven to reduce risky behaviour and can help young people make measured decisions about sex and stay safe."

Family Planning Association chief executive Julie Bentley said: "It is so important that parents have the confidence to start a conversation with their teenagers and children about sex and relationships as it makes a huge difference to their sexual health.

"We know from our Speakeasy course that both parents and young people want to talk to each other about sex and relationships, and the positive effects this can have, but they don't always do it."

She said embarrassment and lack of confidence often stop parents and teenagers from talking to each other about such subjects.

She added: "By building a foundation of knowledge from an early age, a dialogue around sexual health will have already begun, making it easier to discuss the many different issues of being a teenager."