The Chat
Talking to your kids about puberty and sexuality can be uncomfortable, but it’s so important. It not only gives you a chance to reinforce your values, but it strengthens your relationship and builds trust as they enter a pivotal developmental period. So we’ve asked the experts to help us help you! Join us for the The Chat, a comprehensive series of classes on puberty and sexuality geared toward 9–12-year-olds. Our team of experts presents on body changes, sexuality, relationships and consent in a humorous, down-to-earth way while being factual and sensitive to families’ cultures and beliefs.
Virtual Classes
- The Chat Virtual is for preteens 9-12 and a grown-up. All genders are included.
- They’re not your typical virtual class or meeting! The team keeps all ages engaged with an interactive workbook, Q&A (anonymously, if you want!, short videos, fun surveys, conversation prompts for families, and music.
- Five 45-60 minute workshops are typically one week apart. Families can register for an individual class or the whole series.
- Live instruction with expert instructors via ZOOM online in the setting of your choice.
- All preteens will receive a copy of our book Will Puberty Last My Whole Life? In the mail upon completing the series.
Cost: $30 per family for an individual class or $110 per family for the 5-class series.
Is Puberty Weird?
An introduction to the puberty experience for everybody including body odor, pimples, hair, growth, gender, and voice changes.
Body Basics
What most girls experience in puberty including breast development, periods, masturbation, and self-concept.
More Body Basics
What most boys experience in puberty including erections, ejaculation, masturbation, and self-concept.
Crushes, Consent and Other Conversations
How our brains change during puberty. Exploration of emotional regulation, decision-making, healthy conversations with family and friends, crushes, and consent.
Our Sexual Selves
Being sexual, sexual reproduction, healthy relationships, and sexual decision-making.
How to Register
- CLICK HERE to register for The Chat.
- Select 5-Pt CHAT Virtual Series or Single Workshop.
- Select Online for Session Mode.
- You can disregard the Location section, since the classes are virtual.
- Select a date and click Add to Cart. Follow the prompts to complete your purchase. (Keep in mind that class times are displayed in Pacific Standard Time (PST).)
- Use code BRGENERAL at check-out.
For questions about registration, call (206) 789-2306 or email GreatConversations@parenttrust.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Great Conversations?
For 35 years, Great Conversations has offered classes to preteens, teens, and their families on puberty, sexuality, communication, decision-making, emotional regulation, consent, and healthy relationships. Great Conversations provides a fun, interactive, medically accurate, developmentally focused approach to the topics of puberty and sex for families to attend together. In a recent poll, over 90% of families reported being “more confident" talking to their preteens after attending our parent and pre-teen program, The Chat.
Who will be teaching the class?
The team of instructors are experts in talking to kids and families about the important topics of growing up. There are pediatricians, pediatric nurses, social workers, scientists, health advocates and health educators. Click here to learn more.
How do I know if my child is ready for your classes on puberty and sexuality?
The classes are designed for the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social developmental space of typical 9-12 year olds. The content aligns with the recommendations in the Guidelines for Comprehensive Sexuality Education: Kindergarten-Grade 12, written by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States - also adhering in addition to other nationally recognized educational standards for this age group. The supporting book, Will Puberty Last My Whole Life? written by Great Conversations’ co-founders, Julie Metzger RN MN, and Rob Lehman, MD includes many of the topics covered in class.
My child is younger (or older) than the recommended age of 9-12. Can they take the class?
The content of the curriculum, the humor, and stories are geared for the 9-12 year old. We recognize that younger children often have questions about body changes and also experience changes of puberty. We encourage families to begin having conversations in their homes to meet their child’s readiness and wait to attend The Chat until they are developmentally ready. There are some wonderful resources that might be interesting for you to explore together on the Resources page. Sometimes an older child will do just fine in our classes when they are waking up to their changing body - some older kids have reported that they feel self-conscious they are older than most of the preteens attending. Additionally, there are resources for older teens on the Resources page.
Does it matter what grown-up attends The Chat with my child?
The goal of our class is to promote further communication between children and their parents or trusted adult resources. We recognize the diversity of families and welcome a parent, grandparent, guardian, or other close family member of any gender to attend with your preteen.
Can I have multiple children in one class?
Yes. Because the class offers an opportunity to learn and discuss things together, some families have told us they wish they had come separately with each of their children. We invite each family to choose what works best for them.
My child’s puberty experience is not typical to other preteens who will be in class. Will the content of your program still be relevant to our family?
We often have families attend with endocrine, gender identity, and physical and cognitive differences. Additionally, some families attend that have experienced trauma or have anxiety about their bodies or growing up. We believe that every child has a unique story about growing up, and it is important for everyone to have access to accurate information on healthy relationships, sexuality, and their bodies. Because the experience of puberty is typically attached to specific body parts and hormones, our discussion of those experiences will be also (while recognizing a continuum of gender and sexuality). Our focus is both on what is unique and what is shared in the growing up process. While Great Conversations covers general puberty and sexuality, we do not include information on the specific health needs of every individual in their specific puberty journey. We encourage families to continue those conversations at home and with their primary health care provider.
How will the topics of gender and sexuality be discussed?
We believe that every child has a unique story about growing up, that gender and sexuality are varied, and that it is important for everyone to have access to accurate information on healthy relationships, sexuality, and their bodies. Gender identity and same sex relationships will be covered briefly and in alignment with the nationally recognized educational standards on these topics for ages 10-12. Because the experience of puberty is typically attached to specific body parts and hormones, our discussion of those experiences will be also, while recognizing a continuum of gender and sexuality. Our focus is both on what is unique and what is shared in the growing up process. Throughout our class, there may be topics you wish were covered at greater length, or less, or explained in the context of your family or community values. We encourage you to use the information presented in class as a launching point for further conversations at home.