Guest post by: Jeff Johnston
They are questions many parents probably aren’t fully prepared to answer:
“What does transgender mean?” or “Why is that man dressed like a woman?”
Yet transgender issues are becoming more mainstream, as evidenced by the recent “coming out” of Bruce Jenner as “Caitlyn” on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. Not only that, but many children are encountering transgender topics in their schools. More and more we are seeing a growing acceptance and encouragement of “transgendered children” as young as 5 in schools. Teachers might also be broaching the subject in class.
Recently, a colleague’s neighbor was asked by her first grade son, “Mommy, will I be a man or a woman when I grow up? My teacher said I could choose.”
You can help prepare to answer these challenging questions with a new resource from Focus’ Thriving Values team. “Talking to Your Children About Transgender Issues” will help moms and dads explain this complex matter in a biblical, age-appropriate way. You’ll find this article – and links to other good resources on how to discuss sexual topics with your kids – on the social issues section of the Focus website.
Jeff Johnston is an issues analyst for Focus on the Family
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