The Sex Thing: Reimagining conversations with young people about sex book review by Becky Lawrence, youth & kids worker St Mark’s MK and Director/founder Youthwork+

 

This book is a great tool for anyone involved with young people, whether you are a youth worker, volunteer youth leader or even a parent of a teenager or soon to be teenager this book is for you.

Sex is tough for most of us to talk about – especially to talk to youth about, it can be awkward, embarrassing for us and them, and we can be fearful about presenting our own views too strongly incase any young person does the opposite!    Sometimes also we wrongly assume the conversation doesn’t need to be had – that perhaps they might already have set themselves healthy boundaries or assume they are aware of what the Bible says about sex, or that they don’t need our input – in reality this is a conversation we all have to be ready to have.  Sometimes we need to instigate the conversation and other times young people might start it with us.

The Sex Thing by Rachel Gardner is an accessible, practical book that will empower Christian parents and youth leaders when talking to young people about sex.  If you don’t know much about the author – Rachel is very well versed in this field having founded a whole Christian ethos resource called Romance Academy, starring in a TV show which followed her and another youth leader leading a group of young people on an abstinence course which feautred on the BBC and multiple other other speaking engagements and books she’s written.

This book is great at helping us to think about Godly values about sex, understanding youth culture better and is a great tool to equip each of us to feel better prepared to broach the subject of sex with the young people we work with, volunteer with or parent.

Here’s what the book says about itself,

“So often we think about sex as ‘it’, a vague, unnameable thing, but as culture continues to move rapidly, it’s more important than ever that our voices are clear and confident when we talk to youth about sex. With the advancement in sex-tech and changing societal attitudes, we’re preparing young people for a very different world – one we all need to be able to talk about.

In The Sex Thing, Rachel Gardner unpacks a visual framework that can inspire and empower conversations with young people about sex. Focusing on both how young people explore sexual wholeness and what conversations they would need to engage with in that journey of sexual maturity, she offers practical advice for navigating difficult conversations with youth and talking to them confidently and openly.

Whether you are involved in youth ministry or are parenting young adults yourself, The Sex Thing is a brilliant Christian book for anyone looking for a better, more productive way of talking to youth about sex. Packed full of tips and guidance drawn from years of experience, it will equip you with all the tools you need to engage with young people surely and positively.  ”

You can get your hands on a copy at multiple online vendors including Eden, Amazon etc. but heres a link to it on Youthscape’s store where you can pick it up a copy of The Sex Thing: Reimagining conversations with young people about sex by Rachel Gardner for £12.99 with free delivery currently https://www.youthscape.co.uk/store/product/the-sex-thing