Relationships and sex: how young is too young?

Ask Rachel anythingMost first world countries agree that the age of consent is around sixteen, but teenagers don't suddenly awake to their sexuality on their sixteenth birthday. Sexual feelings and interest can start much younger, well before they’re able to understand the implications. One mother has asked us to talk about the issue, because she's struggling to find useful content.  Knowing the law helps guide us as parents, but it doesn't exactly stop teens from vaping and drinking if they want to, so we have to be prepared to consider how to deal with underage interest in sex too.Gone are the days when most people held back until marriage, and with the advent of free internet porn and social media there's a chance that our teens may know more about sex than we do. So what should we be saying to them, how do we keep them safe, and how can we help them to know when they're ready for that next adventure in life? THE BLOG POST WITH KEY POINTS:https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/blog/it-might-be-illegal-but-when-did-that-ever-stop-a-teenager/HELPFUL WEBSITES:https://www.culturereframed.org/ RESEARCH SOURCES:https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/when-is-person-ready-start-having-sexhttps://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/720822https://oxfordshirescb.proceduresonline.com/p_underage_sexual_act.htmlwww.unchainedatlast.org https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5546176/https://www.npr.org/2023/01/08/1147737247/teen-pregnancy-rates-have-declined-significantlyhttps://courses.lumenlearning.com/adolescent/chapter/sexual-development/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/no-sex-please-we-re-your-parents-would-you-let-your-teen-have-sex-under-your-roof_n_7389178/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5546176/https://courses.lumenlearning.com/adolescent/chapter/sexual-development/Support the showPlease hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.Find all the tips from the episdoe on Substack: My emailMy website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact meInstagramFacebookYou can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk