Parenting is tricky at the best of times, there are many conversations that must happen unexpectedly as a child or young person asks questions or raises sensitive issues with you. Although you won’t always have a chance to plan ahead, YPRL has a great collection of Junior Non-Fiction as well as many picture story books that can assist you in having these tricky conversations with your children.
Allowing some time to prepare for tricky conversations can help you feel more confident and capable in delivering them, this is where the library can be an excellent resource!
Affirmative Consent
Normalising discussions about consent out of high-pressure situations can empower young people with the skills they might need in the future. Having these conversations in little ways often, rather than only speaking about it one time, will assist young people to recognise if something doesn’t feel right. When young people recognise this, they are more likely to seek support.
YPRL has some useful Junior Non-Fiction texts that will help you explore affirmative consent and body boundaries with your child:
ABC of Body Safety and Consent
The 26 'key' letters and accompanying words will help children to learn and consolidate age-appropriate, crucial and life-changing body safety and consent skills. Designed as a 'dip in and dip out' book, the text, the child-centred questions and the stunning illustrations will reinforce key skills such as consent, respect, body boundaries, safe and unsafe touch, Early Warning Signs, Safety Network, private parts, and the difference between secrets and surprises. Also included are Discussion Questions for parents, caregivers and educators.
Let's talk about Body Boundaries, Consent & Respect
Teaching young children about body boundaries, both theirs and others, is crucial to a child's growing sense of self, their confidence and how they should expect to be treated by others. A child growing up knowing they have a right to their own personal space, gives that child ownership and choices as to what happens to them and to their body. It is equally important a child understands, from a very young age, they need to respect another person's body boundary and ask for their consent when entering their personal space. This book explores these concepts with children in a child-friendly and easily-understood manner, providing familiar scenarios for children to engage with and discuss.
The Every Body book of Consent : an LGBTQIA-inclusive guide to respecting boundaries, bodies, and beyond
This illustrated guide introduces consent in all its many forms - in a way that is inclusive of orientation, neurodiversity, gender identity, faith and ethnicity. Delving into issues of body safety, verbal and nonverbal cues, boundaries, puberty and privacy, the correct terminology for body parts, developing a safe adult support system, and recognizing gut feelings - this will help children build confidence and shame-free knowledge. It will also offer ideas around consent nuances, like power dynamics, intellectual disabilities, pornography, sexism, and transphobia. With a glossary and further discussion questions - this is the perfect book for young people and their families to explore together.
Welcome to Consent
An inclusive, frank and funny guide to navigating consent for tweens and teens of all genders, from the award-winning authors of Welcome to Your Period. Adolescent health experts Dr Melissa Kang and Yumi Stynes have written the only guide you need to figuring out the rules of consent. Whether you're a curious 11 to 14-year-old, or the parent of someone with a bunch of questions, this book is reassuring, interesting, and full of the info you need!
Grief and Loss
Experiencing grief and loss as a young person can be confusing. Sharing stories with a child can be a helpful way to navigate through their feelings as well as keep the communication lines open. Reading a book together could prompt your child with questions and help them to understand their feelings during a difficult time.
The Invisible String
When Liza and Jeremy run to their mother during a scary storm, she comforts them by telling them about the Invisible String, which connects people who love each other no matter where they are and means that they are never alone.
All about Grief
All About Grief looks at grief from many different angles, helping preteens understand how it influences emotions, relationships, brains, bodies, and behaviour.
A Leaf called Greaf
A stunning new picture book by award-winning author and illustrator Kelly Canby that gently introduces the concept of grief to children. Bear is all alone. His brothers and sisters have left him. Bear embraces his grief in the form of Greaf - the greenest, most beguiling leaf Bear has ever seen. Bear holds Greaf tight. But as the season wanes, Greaf changes, and so too does Bear. A poignant, lyrical story gently touching on the changing nature of sorrow in the aftermath of loss.
Puberty
Puberty can be an uncomfortable topic to discuss with your children. Practicing what you would like to say first can help with your confidence and prepare you for some unexpected questions. Reading a book together with your child can also be an effective way of discussing these topics.
Check out these informative and child appropriate Non-Fiction texts regarding Puberty:
Puberty is Gross but also Really Awesome
Provides readers with a humorous look at what happens to a teenager's body and mind when they reach puberty.
A Guy's Guide to Puberty : My very own road map to growing up
This book is designed to be a no-pressure place for tween boys to learn, with characters and comics that are sure to bring a smile to their faces. They will read about body parts and how they will change, get tips on caring for their body and emotions (including their brain), and appreciate the role of trusted adults and the amazing future that is ahead of them.
A Girl's Guide to Puberty : My very own road map to growing up
This book is a no-pressure place to learn about your body, how it will change and the amazing future ahead of you. Inside you will find comics, quotes, drawing pages and lots of need-to-know stuff about growing up.
Welcome to your boobs!
Whether we're ready for them or not, nearly everyone, of every gender, gets some boob growth when they hit puberty. And most new boob owners have a lot of questions, like: -Are my boobs 'normal'? -How do I look after them? -Why do boobs hurt sometimes? -Do I have to wear a bra? How do I even buy a bra? -And is it all right to sometimes feel a bit annoyed about the whole boob situation? This little book is packed with case studies, first-person accounts, and questions from real teens, answered by real experts - us! Don't worry - you've got this!
Growing Up
Growing Up covers everything from biological sex and gender identity to physical changes and emotional development, including sections on friendships and emotional health, creating and respecting boundaries and online safety.
Divorce
Divorce is a scenario that can affect many families as well as families close to us. Speaking to children and young people about divorce can be challenging. Using stories and Non-Fiction texts can be a useful way to open these discussions.
What about Neko? A story about Divorce
Becca's parents are getting a divorce. She's sad and confused, but more importantly, what will happen to Neko, their family dog? Neko doesn't understand what divorce is and Neko isn't allowed in Dad's new flat. How will they ever make this work? In the end, Becca's parents decide to do pick- ups at the dog park so Neko can see Dad. It's a step in the right direction. What About Neko? explores the issue of divorce through a sensitive story that children can relate to.
A Kids Book about Divorce
When divorce happens, it happens to everyone in the family, and kids are left with a lot of questions. This is a tough conversation to have, and some of the answers can hurt. This book is meant to help start an honest discussion with kids about what to expect when parents go their separate ways -- written by a parent who has been there.
Other Resources:
Beyond the library, there are several local organisations that can provide valuable information to help tackle some of these more sensitive topics.
Women’s Health in the North (WHIN) works to eliminate gender inequities and improve outcomes in women’s health, safety and wellbeing. Their website provides lots of valuable information including great fact sheets regarding sexual and reproductive health.
Women's Health In the North | Home
The City of Whittlesea also provide several free parent workshops and webinars that tackle parenting tweens and teens that might be useful and informative:
Tuning in to Teens (6-week program)
Presented by KidsFirst and ParentZone
This course provides parents with skills and strategies to help with everyday challenges based on emotionally attuned parenting.
You will learn how to:
• Understand your teen’s emotions
• Be aware of and manage your emotions
• Build attachment and teaching through emotional experiences
• Help your teen understand and manage their emotions
• Develop skills to assist your teen in problem solving.
When: Tuesday 6th May- 10th June 6-8pm
Where: Online
Cost: Free
Bookings: Are Essential through Donna El-Cheikh delcheikh@kidsfirstaustralia.org.au
For more information: Contact Council’s Early Years Services and Inclusion Team on 9217 2170 or email familytraining@whittlesea.vic.gov.au