Families
Families
Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day
Topics: resilience, emotions, feelings, jealousy, anger, hate, isolation, injustice, siblings, friendship.
Fiction
Alexander knew it was going to be a terrible day when he woke up with gum in his hair. His best friend deserted him. There was no dessert in his lunch bag. And, on top of all that, there were lima beans for dinner and kissing on TV!
Age: 6 to 9 years.
YouTube reading - 4min 33sec (external link)Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society
A centre for social research into sexuality, health and the social dimensions of human relationships based at La Trobe University, Melbourne.
Barriers and prompts to parent-child sexual communication
A research report from 2016 investigating what prompts parents to start the conversation about sexuality with their children. Many parents feel that their children are too young to talk about sexuality, and often don't know how to start the conversation. This article addresses barriers that parents experience in regards to talking about sexuality with their children.
Because it's my body!
Topics: protective behaviours, child abuse prevention, bodily autonomy, safety, art.
Fiction
Focusing on empowerment and prevention, this approachable book gives young children a way to reject unwanted, possibly harmful physical contact by adults and other kids.
Age: 4 to 7 years.
Challenging gender stereotypes in the early years: the power of parents
An overview of survey findings discussing key results within the context of international literature on early childhood, gender stereotypes, development, and parenting.
Changes
Topics: changes, families, new baby.
Fiction
When Joseph's mother comes home, says his father, things are going to change. And so they do, in the most extraordinary ways. This book explores the changes to Joseph's life when his parents bring home his baby sister.
Ages: 4 to 11 years.
Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul
A collection of short stories, anecdotes, poems and cartoons which present a positive outlook on life (8 to 12 years). Topics: courage, hope, laughter.
Counselling Online
Communicate with a professional counsellor about an alcohol or drug related concern using text-interaction. This service is free for anyone seeking help with their own drug use or the drug use of a family member, relative or friend. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across Australia.
Donor Conception Network
Booklets and films written for children about conception via donor.
Emily's blue period
Topics: emotional literacy, sadness, change, families, divorce
Fiction
Emily wants to be an artist. She likes painting and loves the way artists like Pablo Picasso mixed things up. Emily's life is a little mixed up right now. Her dad doesn't live at home anymore, and it feels like everything around her is changing. She is going through her 'blue period'. A book about a young child dealing with her parent's divorce.
Ages: 4 to 8 years.
Family Planning NSW
Provides reproductive and sexual health services throughout NSW. Includes a section for teachers.
Family Planning Victoria (FPV)
Provides reproductive and sexual health services throughout Victoria. Includes a section on school programs.
Girls like that and other plays for teenagers
Fiction
'Girls Like That' explores the pressures caused by technology when a schoolgirls naked photograph goes viral.
'Banana Boys' is about the challenge of being on the school football team and being secretly gay.
'Holloway Jones' is a about with growing up with a parent in prison.
'Pronoun' is about two childhood sweethearts dealing with the fact that one of them, Isabella, has come out as transgender.
Handbook for parents - consortium on the management of disorders of sex development
A handbook for parents with children who have intersex variations.
Headspace
Headspace centres act as a one-stop-shop for young people who need help with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drugs, work and study support. There are over 100 centres in Australia. eheadspace is the national online and phone support service, staffed by experienced youth mental health professionals. qheadspace offers online support for LGBTQIA+ young people.
Issues Paper: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex (LGBTI) children and young people
Paper by the Commissioner for Children and Young People on gender and sexual diversity.
Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline is Australia's only free, private and confidential, telephone and online counselling service specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25. The website also provides lots of valuable information for kids and parents.
Let's talk about sex
Non-fiction
Biological and psychological information about sex: from puberty and conception to birth control and STIs, including sections on the body, families and babies, and sexual health. New edition includes expanded information on internet, texting safety, contraception and LGBT.
Let's talk about the birds and the bees
Non-fiction
Cartoon illustrated book for parents to read to children about differences between male and female reproductive systems, private body parts, sexual intercourse, love, puberty, what touching is ok/not ok, families. Simple facts as a starting point for conversations.
Book review by Cath Hak 6min (external link)
Age: Parents and teachers of 4 to 11 year olds.