Learning how to make decisions is a skill individuals often learn by trial and error in life; some people excel, and others are consistently challenged by the task. Sexual decision-making can be even more challenging for young people while they are dealing with fluctuating hormones, peer pressures, the desire to fit in, and all
of the social, emotional, and physical changes that happen during adolescence. As educators, its important to remember that teaching sexual decision-making is a critical part of sex ed, as we know that many young people report that sex “just happened,” or that they “just wanted to get it over with.” Supporting young people in developing the skill of making choices about sexual behaviors that are aligned with their values and will enhance their health outcomes is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to sexuality education.
In this toolkit, you will find links to decision-making models commonly used in sexuality and health education. In addition, you will find links to lesson plans and other resources to guide you in your teaching of decision-making. As your students are developing their overall decision-making skills, it is important to integrate concepts of sexual decision-making into your lessons.
