Linda Goldman

I read this book in about half an hour...and I didn't take very much from it. I agree with the strategies suggested in it and think it takes a caring approach to the delicate subject of sexuality and talking to children about possibly uncomfortable subjects...but it's not an in-depth one. And it's probably not designed to be in-depth, given it's length.

I agree with author Linda Goldman that, “The childhood journey on the quest for information and understanding is a long and patient interchange between young people and adults.” I agree that there isn't just one conversation to be had...that it's a series of questions asked an answered, depending on circumstances and the age of the child.

But, I would think that this book would be helpful to an adult that hasn't even begun to think about talking to a child about sex...and provide ideas on what approach to take. To be realistic and age appropriate and honest. “...when one begins with a distortion with children, it can only lead to confusion and possibly lack of trust until it is corrected.”

The ideas contained within “Great Answers to Difficult Questions about Sex”, are good starter ones, but if one is being asked those questions by an older child or of the questions progress into more difficult situations, one would need additional resources.… (mere)

Great Answers to Difficult Questions About Sex is a short book that covers a variety of topics that involve gender and sexuality and then some (bullying?).

Chapters include:
1. Where do babies come from?
2. How did I get in my mom's tummy? How did I get out?
3. How are girls' and boys' bodies alike and different?
4. What parts of my body are private? Why?
5. What is sex?
6. What does puberty mean? Is my body going to change?
7. Am I falling in love? How can I tell if it's love or just friends?
8. What is gender? Do girls and boys have to act and feel a certain way?
9. What does gay mean? What does straight mean?
10. Are there different kinds of families? What makes a family?

To a certain degree it does provide answer suggestions for parents, but to a much greater degree it lectures parents on what answers they should give. For example, it is quite determined that parents take an "enlightened" approach to sex and gender. From my own perspective it was a good fit, but if you are more conservative you are going to have to ignore some of the responses involving homosexuality and contraception.

This leads to one of the things I didn't like about that book, and that was that there was not enough description about how to vary your answer according to your own beliefs. It was her way or nothing. Related to this was that I found that there wasn't enough help in the 'sexual relations' department, and too much about how it's okay for boys to wear pink, and girls to play with trucks.

I think I would have found the book more helpful if it had provided examples of various answers that parents could provide about how children should make their own decisions before they begin dating. (This was something "Boyology" did, which I thought was brilliant.)

Talking Points:::
Great Answers to Difficult Questions About Sex: What Children Need to Know is probably best read by new parents. I say this because much of the advice is best used when children first begin talking and exploring their bodies.

The material that is covered is very broad. Perhaps too broad for a book that is only 95 pages long. (Bullying, seems too far afield)

The target audience of children is very broad -- from toddlers to young teens. I thought the advice for answers for Tweeners was very liberal. Now that fits our household, but I doubt it would fit some of my religiously conservative friends at all. (Homosexuality and same-sex marriage is positively confirmed.)

The book attempts to have a case study approach, but really you could tell that the examples were fake. And seriously, to take that approach, you need to have more than one example per question.
I wished there had been more advice as to how to discuss abstinence and birth control. These topics were only lightly touched upon.

Finally, I think I'm most likely to use this book as a quick reminder of possible answers when those questions pop up out-of-the-blue, when I'm too stunned to come up with quick answer.

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at BooksforKids.com… (mere)