Guide to Growing Up

Sarah Smith is the CEO of acet UK, a Christian charity delivering relationships and sex education in secondary schools and providing training to youth workers, teachers and parents. She lives in London, and is a well known speaker throughout the United Kingdon. She is the author of A Guide to Growing Up: Honest Conversations About Puberty, Sex and God.

• ContentsForeword 7A Note to Parents/Carers 9From Me to You 11Introduction 15Part 1: Your Body is AmazingChapter 1: The Amazing You 22Chapter 2: Boys are Wonderfully Made 28Chapter 3: Girls are Wonderfully Made 32Part 2: Time to ChangeChapter 4: Puberty – The Journey from Childhood to Adulthood 38Chapter 5: Puberty and the Skin You’re In 44Chapter 6: Puberty – The Boy’s Journey 50Chapter 7: Spectacular Sperm Adventures 56Chapter 8: Puberty – The Girl’s Journey 62Chapter 9: Excellent Egg Adventures 68Part 3: Sexual Feelings, Sex, and AttractionChapter 10: Masturbation – A Personal Curiosity 78Chapter 11: What is Sex? 82Chapter 12: Bodies and Sex on Screen 88Chapter 13: All Sorts of Attractions 94Chapter 14: Same-sex Attraction and the Bible 100Part 4: Our Bodies are PreciousChapter 15: Body Boundaries 108Chapter 16: When Body Boundaries are Crossed 114Part 5: Honouring Others and Honouring GodChapter 17: How We Treat Each Other 120Chapter 18: Being Strong and Courageous 126Part 6: New LifeChapter 19: Making Babies – How an Egg and a SpermGet Together 132Chapter 20: Making Babies – From Pregnancy to theGrand Entry 136Chapter 21: Not Making Babies – What is Contraception? 142Chapter 22: A Big Question – When Does Life Begin? 148Part 7: Handle with CareChapter 23: Sexually Transmitted Infections 156Chapter 24: HIV and AIDS 160Chapter 25: The Human Body – Handle with Care 166Final Words 171Further Support 175Acknowledgments 176