Page 224 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Growing Up: A No-Nonsense Guide to Puberty and Adolescence

222 SEX

Intimacy SEE ALSO
‹
‹ 198–199 Healthy relationships
206–207 Sexuality
Being emotionally and physically close to someone is a loving ‹ 220–221 Consent
and exciting experience. Intimacy is a warm, affectionate type Sex 224–225 ›
of closeness. It’s a natural part of romantic relationships and
can develop into something sexual.
P ARENT TIPS
Kissing Touching Parental concerns

When two people kiss, it brings them As two people become more intimate It can be nerve-wracking to imagine
close into one another’s personal space. with each other, the areas that they your teen becoming intimate with
As well as the sensation of lips touching, touch, and enjoying being touched, a boyfriend or girlfriend.
kissing awakens a person’s senses of become more personal. From holding
smell and taste. hands to caressing, these can be • Teens who talk openly with their
sweet or intense acts. parents about sex and intimacy are
◁ Making out more likely to delay sexual activity.
A kiss can progress to • If your teen wants to have sex,
tongues touching and they probably will – regardless of
exploring – sometimes efforts to dissuade them. Instead,
called snogging or ▷ Body contact try to emphasize consent, respect,
French kissing. having a personal connection with
Touching intimate
areas may start over a partner, and contraceptive advice.
and under clothes,
progressing to
undressing once both
people feel ready.

Foreplay TEEN HINTS
As the name suggests, foreplay often comes before sexual intercourse – That’s far enough
but not always. It includes kissing and touching in ways that stimulate People feel ready for different types and levels of
sexual arousal. It signifies a certain level of trust in the other person. intimacy at different times. Don’t put pressure on
Foreplay itself can be a satisfying end in itself rather than progressing yourself, or on your boyfriend or girlfriend, to do
to sex. As a step towards sex, it helps both partners become relaxed anything that you’re both not fully comfortable with.
and feel ready. Understand and respect what is right for you and for
your partner. Be sure that neither of you just goes
along with anything because you feel pressured
or awkward.

△ Open and honest
Both parties need to be completely
△ Fondling comfortable with the level of intimacy.
Foreplay goes a step beyond kissing and
touching, but doesn’t necessarily lead to sex.

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