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Key features of GET A GRIP teenz:
2. GET A GRIP teenz takes the guesswork out for teachers. The Facilitator Manual is incredibly comprehensive, offering them clear guidance and appropriate language to frame the conversations. 3. Teachers are invited to participate in online training for
And this is why Liz Walker, founder and national director of Youth Wellbeing has made it her mission to do just that. Sexologist, educator, mum, teen life coach and presenter, Liz Walker has been actively involved in Youth Sexuality Education since 2008. She has a special interest in healthy sexuality resulting from her personal journey – she saw pornography at the age of six. She has a passion for helping young people by equipping them with real strategies and breaking down communication barriers. She believes that to ensure children have a good understanding of their body and how to respect others when they are older comes from providing them with the right knowledge when they are younger.
each of the lessons. At no point are teachers left in the dark about how to get the most out of the GET A GRIP teenz programme. 4. Students are asked to selfreflect on sexuality related to their own personal journey through the participant workbooks. 5. Parents are invited into their teens learning journey through the Teen Sexuality Parents and Carers Handbook. This lets parents know the type of content covered in class, offering reassurance and guidance to engage their teen in conversation.
was developed for use in small groups however, demand from schools requesting a classroom resource meant we refined it to the 10 week versatile programme it is now. “By investing in GET A GRIP teenz, schools receive classroom resources, comprehensive online training and strategies to include parents in the conversation,” Liz says. She agrees that parents are vital in framing the values they want for their teens. “Schools delivering sexuality and relationships education need to be respectful that a broad range of beliefs and values exist within the classroom, whilst still delivering essential content.
Liz admits she is shocked that authentic human connection, love and intimacy appear to have vanished in a generation.
“Parents are in a wonderful position to compliment the school’s delivery of content, as well as focus on keeping communication channels open and framing values.
“Young people are absorbing incredibly degrading messages from pornography. In the absence of healthy sexuality and relationships education, young people don’t have a compass to frame their expectations,” Liz says.
“When we hear the argument that sex education is the parent’s responsibility, we absolutely agree. However, it gets complicated when so many kids miss out because parents don’t have these conversations.
“In many cases, the word ‘rape’ is thrown around like a joke without understanding the impact on the person. Culture and pornography perpetuates rape myths such as “women secretly enjoy being raped,” or “women ‘ask for it’ by their dress or actions,” or “if a person doesn’t ‘fight back’ they weren’t really raped.
“Relationships and sexuality education within schools levels the field and ensures all young people have access to essential life skills.”
“One of the focusses of GET A GRIP teenz is to create awareness and empathy to dispel some of these myths. Empathy seems to be the missing ingredient and agent for change.” So in light of the Roast Busters case, Liz is bringing her programme GET A GRIP teenz to New Zealand, which will officially launch in August 2014. “I created the GET A GRIP teenz programme in 2010, officially launching in August 2011. Initially it
bringing up a hormonal teenager, but it’s important for parents to be a voice of support and do their best to try and understand the culture in which teenagers live. Something that Liz says is more likely to enable schools, families and communities to support teenagers towards better decision making and positive relationships. Of course, for some parents it’s difficult to approach their teenagers to engage in ‘the talk’ which can be uncomfortable and invariably uses a lot of colloquialisms instead of calling it a spade of spade. “There comes a time in every child’s life when they are naturally inquisitive about sexuality. If parents shut them down and tell them that they’re not willing to go there, kids will find information from someone or somewhere else.
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“It’s no longer a case of ‘if’ a child will see porn – it’s a case of ‘when’. With average age of exposure 11 years of age and reports surfacing of much younger than that, children need to know that parents are a safe haven to answer tough questions. “Parents, remember to breathe. If you don’t know the answer to a tough question or are flustered at the thought, suggest to your child that you’ll talk with them at another set time. “Ensure you follow up with it. Phone a friend, call an expert or search Google to find the words to frame your response. “The bottom line is that if parents and proactive schools aren’t educating kids, the porn industry will.”
There comes a time in every child’s life when they are naturally inquisitive about sexuality. If parents shut them down and tell them that they’re not willing to go there, kids will find information from someone or somewhere else.
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1. GET A GRIP teenz incorporates interactive activities. There’s not just a teacher standing up at the front downloading content, but its hands-on for teens, engaging them to critically reflect on deeper concepts.
Stranger danger When asked how teenagers can recognise when they’re in a bad situation, she says it all comes down to awareness of surroundings, potential outcomes and picking up on internal warning signs. “In GET A GRIP teenz we give young people the opportunity to think about different risk situations and the best ways to respond. This assists them to define their personal integrity, be prepared for the unknown, and to think about who their support networks are within family and community.” Many, if not all parents, are familiar with the turbulence and strife of
www.principalstoday.co.nz Term 2, 2014 | 11