1. Ask parents of other kids in your child’s class if they know if kids are asking questions about sex. Chances are, if your child’s friends are talking, your child is listening, and it is time she hear about sex from you, her parent.

2. Ask your child a few of the following questions:

• Do any of the kids in your class talk about things like dating, holding hands or kissing?
• Have you ever seen kids in the hall kissing?
• Have you heard of boys and girls doing things on your bus that you don’t understand or that are confusing?

Beginning with questions like these helps you understand whether sexual conversations and thoughts are part of your child’s world. If your child looks at you like a deer in the headlights, he’s not ready. If, on the other hand, he nods his head or looks like he knows what you are referring to, it’s time to have the talk.

3. If your child starts to ask you questions like the following, she is probably ready for the talk:

• Where do babies come from anyway?
• Tommy’s sister is pregnant and she’s not married. How does that happen?
• I learned in class that…