LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., April 14, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Birds and Bees Connection, an agency providing an innovative approach to sexual health education, announces the addition of Puber-Tea to its curricula, a class through which parents and their children learn about the physical and emotional changes occurring during puberty in a fun and interactive setting.
Puber-Tea was specially designed for mothers and daughters (ages 8-10) and features an English Tea setting during its 2 1/2-hour course. Like all of The Birds and Bees Connection's courses, Puber-Tea's goal is to strengthen the bond between parents and their children and focuses on the physical and emotional changes that occur during puberty.
"When we developed the curriculum for this very special course, we were looking to establish a gentle program that would not intimidate young girls, while providing a forum to discuss a topic that can sometimes be confusing and scary," said says Leslie Dixon, founder and executive director of The Birds and Bees Connection. "I believe that we achieved our objective, creating an inviting environment that presents a sensitive subject. I have witnessed the connection that occurs between mothers and daughters during the course and know that a positive bond is being established."
All of The Birds and Bees Connection's courses are abstinence-based and non-denominational. They also help develop critical thinking skills. Courses currently offered by The Birds and Bees Connection are open to the public and include:
-- Bodies in Motion: This two session, five-hour course for
parents provides the tools needed to help their children
develop a healthy self-esteem, guide them in becoming
comfortable with their sexuality and body image, and
develops parents' skills in effectively communicating
their values and beliefs to their children.
-- Puber-Tea: This unique 21/2-hour course for mothers and
daughters (ages 8-10) takes place during an English Tea
setting and covers puberty and menstruation.
-- Rites of Passage I: This five-week course for parents and
pre-teens (ages 10-12 with boys and girls taught separately)
is designed to provide open discussions regarding puberty,
hygiene, nutrition, peer pressure, self-esteem, reproduction
and more, while generating a dialogue whereby parents and their
children begin to feel more comfortable discussing adolescent
issues.
-- Rites of Passage II: This course for parents and teens
(ages 13-15 with boys and girls taught separately or together)
promotes communication between parents and their children about
adolescence, sexuality, relationships, sexually transmitted
diseases, birth control, date rape, media messages, self-esteem,
and peer pressure in a non-threatening environment.
Additionally, Orange County Girl Scouts are eligible to receive badge credits for attending either Puber-Tea and/or Rites of Passage I, and many of them have already attended the courses. "We were so surprised to see just how interested our daughters were and how much they wanted to learn. These are girls who usually have difficulty sitting still for any great length of time, but they were so engrossed with the information and the format of Puber-Tea. We really felt it was a valuable experience," said Diane Brown, volunteer leader of the Newport Beach Girl Scout Troop that recently attended the course. "Puber-Tea provided us with exactly the kind of information needed for moms and their daughters to prepare for one of life's biggest transitions."
About The Birds and Bees Connection
The Birds and Bees Connection provides an innovative approach to sexual health education with courses for parents and children focused on the transition between childhood and adolescence. The agency has copyrighted its powerful curriculum and offers unique courses that create a safe, stimulating environment where parents and their children come together to openly discuss puberty and sexuality. Courses are offered directly through The Birds and Bees Connection, as well as through many host organizations, including Irvine Unified School District, Laguna Beach PTA, Girl Scout Council of Orange County and multiple religious and sports organizations. Providing education in an engaging, comfortable manner, The Birds and Bees Connection shatters myths and taboos and helps children establish a solid foundation for critical decision-making in an abstinence-based, non-denominational environment. For more information, visit www.birdsnbeesconnection.com, or call 949-215-7809.