More Than Just the Talk: Becoming Your Kids' Go-To Person About Sex

by Jonathan McKee

Have Real Conversations With Your Kids About Sex

The old ways of having the "sex talk" just won't cut it anymore. Sadly, the number one place today's young people go to for answers about sex is Google. Meanwhile, kids view nearly 14,000 sexual references a year on television, and 70 percent of teenagers have encountered pornography on the Internet. If we want our children to know the truth about healthy sexuality, we need to create a comfortable climate of continual conversations.

Jonathan McKee will show you how to move beyond the initial awkwardness of this subject into an ongoing communication with your kids about God's amazing gift of sex. He equips you with what you need to talk openly about dating, temptation, porn, and purity, and you will find answers to tough questions and relevant Scripture on sexual issues.

It's normal for kids to be curious about sexuality, and they need to know that their parents are the most reliable source of information. Be the one your kids turn to on this crucial topic.

"In a world full of explicit lies, today's kids need parents who aren't afraid to tell them the explicit truth. This book provides parents with the tools they need to have these candid and continual conversations."--Dr. Kevin Leman, New York Times bestselling author of Have a Happy Family by Friday

"Jonathan McKee is one of America's premier youth specialists, and this book will help you navigate the rough waters of teaching your kids healthy sexuality."--Jim Burns, PhD, president, HomeWord and author

"Parents, take a deep breath. This book pulls no punches. But it will give you exactly what you need to walk alongside your kids at this time when they most need it."--Shaunti Feldhahn, social researcher, speaker, and bestselling author

"A thorough, straightforward, and engaging resource that will both equip and inform a parent for effective, culturally relevant, and God-honoring conversations about sexuality and all its implications. It is a critical read in critical times."--Brian Berry, generation ministries pastor, Journey Community Church, La Mesa, California; and author

"SO many parents I know don't feel equipped to talk to their kids about sex. This book helps you overcome the (guaranteed) awkwardness of conversations like that, and provides both tools AND motivation. I wish every parent would read it."--Scott Rubin, director of middle school ministry, Willow Creek Community Church

"Jonathan McKee provides clarity and practical knowledge so that you and I can do more than just give a nervous 'talk' to our kids; we can be loving and consistent parents for them as well."--Terry Linhart, PhD, educator, author, Bethel College--Indiana

"Kids need parents who are educated, aware, and relevant when it comes to sex. Thankfully, Jonathan McKee gives us powerful, poignant, and practical tools to help us win in this delicate and scary parenting arena."--Doug Fields, co-founder of DownloadYouthMinistry.com, youth pastor for thirty years at Saddleback & Mariners Church, speaker, and author

"McKee is a frontline youth worker with current and regular interactions with Christian teenagers wrestling with the intersection of their faith and their sexuality. Never condescending, Jon brings his writing style to a subject I wish more parents were talking about with their teens."--Mark Oestreicher, partner, The Youth Cartel and author

"Jonathan McKee's book helps us to remember that 'the talk' is a myth at best, and a terrible strategy at worst. A lifestyle of preparation, a strategic series of discussions, and a proactive commitment to conversation is what our kids need, and this book will help any parent to walk with their kids in confidence."--Chap Clark, professor of youth, family, and culture, Fuller Theological Seminary

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Christian, Reference

216 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2015

About the author

Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new IF I HAD A PARENTING DO OVER; 52 WAYS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE OBSESSED KID; and the Amazon "Best Seller," THE GUY'S GUIDE TO GOD, GIRLS AND THE PHONE IN YOUR POCKET. With over 20 years youth ministry experience, Jonathan speaks to parents and leaders worldwide. You can follow Jonathan on his blog at JonathanMcKeeWrites.com, getting a regular dose of youth culture and parenting help. Jonathan, his wife, Lori, and their three kids live in California.

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Than Just The Talk- Becoming your kids’ go-to person about sex by Jonathan McKee is an easy to read handbook for parents needing a little nudge in talking about sex with their kids. Sex is a topic that makes every parent sweat just a little when they think it’s time for “The Talk.” McKee reminds us that kids need an ongoing discussion, not just one conversation. Begin these conversations by age eight to maximize building a foundation for future talks. The topics parents hesitate to talk about are already being driven down kids throats at very early ages by the social media. If parents won’t discuss sex then kids begin looking for information somewhere else. Do you want your children to learn about sex from Google?
McKee’s message is well justified in exploring how much sex saturation our society holds. He explains how to open conversations with your children and how to handle their questions calmly. There are tips for dads supporting daughters and mothers teaching sons. McKee uses statistics from several sources to support his advice. This is the handbook for parents to help tell the complete truth to kids when schools will be only telling them the names of their body parts and how to use them. There is more to sex than just reaching a climax. If parents don’t tell the whole story, who will?
The examples that McKee uses from current music and videos will be outdated quickly but the principle will remain current. McKee reminds the reader several times of his lengthy youth ministry experience. Youth ministry experience is wonderful but a little humility is too. After all, the youth culture changes just about every week.

[Emily Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am SO glad I read this book. It’s an excellent resource for parents. Highly recommend.

[Michele Morin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the rites of passage in our family of four boys has been the one-on-one camp out with Dad. Around the age of ten or eleven, before they were interested in girls, before their bodies started to take on a mind of their own, my good husband took them away for a weekend of canoeing and hotdogs; tenting and s’mores; swimming and “The Talk.” He had all kinds of resources to serve as a broad outline, but the main reason why the whole experience was not bathed in awkwardness is that he has had an open-door policy for “that kind of question” ever since he was changing their diapers. Obviously, I have been involved in our boys’ sex-education as well — I was with them 24/7 when they were all young. But their dad has been their go-to guy, and he’s happy about that. If More Than Just the Talk by Jonathan McKee had been written a few years earlier, he would have read it and used it, because the author candidly addresses topics that might not occur to the average middle-aged parent. He would rather run the risk of offending his reader with startling truth than to allow them to be blind-sided by real life after it’s too late.

Running through the book is the all-important Deuteronomy principle that you don’t just sit down and discuss “plumbing and mechanics” with your children when they hit puberty and consider that your work is done. Our children receive inaccurate and damaging information about sex from entertainment media and technology — McKee calls them The Pseudo Parent. Kids get this information about dating, sex, and friendships a little here, a little there, when they are sitting in their house, when they are walking by the way. . . Anyone hearing an allusion to Deuteronomy? This is the premise of More Than Just the Talk: if you want to be the one who shapes your child’s bedrock beliefs about sex, you have to be available for explicit day-to-day conversations about issues you might prefer not to acknowledge, at times of the day (or night) when you’d rather be doing something else — like sleeping. The Pseudo Parent is explicit (think about song lyrics for a minute), so the REAL parent has to avoid the trap of using “irrelevant words from a different era” in conversations about sex.

Speaking frankly from his own regrets, McKee shares personal experiences that have shaped the way he deals with questions in his present-day ministry with teens. Most of the questions he has heard from teens over the years about the “rightness or wrongness” of specific behaviors boil down to one clear answer: “Lusting is wrong.” Based on this biblical truth (Matthew 5:27-29), McKee encourages believers to flee sexual sin in all its forms and provides some very specific and practical conversational guidelines for teaching our sons and our daughters what it looks like to pursue righteousness, for this truly is the path, more than just the avoidance of sin, which leads to life and freedom.

More Than Just the Talk is based in reality, and parents may gulp at the startling statistics around sexual activity, use of pornography, and the prevalence of STD’s. However, they are offered with hope that readers will take on their kids’ unanswered questions about sex with explicit information that is offered like a calm voice of hope in their child’s ear saying, “Sex is good. It’s a gift from God. You can talk to me about anything.”

Disclosure: This book was provided by Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for my honest review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really think every parent should read this book. There is so much helpful and insightful information in it. I grew up in a conservative home where sex was not really talked about a whole lot.

So what is this book all about? Being pro-active! Combating those loud voices that are talking to your children. Being your child's go to person when it comes to questions about sex. Hearing those "shocking" questions without freaking out, and being able to answer them in a way that won't turn God's gift into something negative. With all the negative feed our children are getting, we as parents have a choice to be open and honest, to present the truth of God's plan for sex and marriage, and to keep open the doors of communication.

This book addresses tough issues, the appropriate age to begin talking to your children, how to answer those hard questions, and what to do if your child has already gotten involved in areas you would rather not think about. It is never too late, and in some ways, it is never too early to open those doors of conversation. The things you think they never think about, may already be on their minds.

I personally, feel like every parent, especially Christian ones, would benefit from reading this book. I know it has really been helpful to me, and I intend to keep it as a reference for future use.

I received this book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I was not given any other compensation and not required to review this positively.

You can read my whole review at http://myseasonsofopportunities.blogs...

[21clunmcoldwatercavs.Org · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very helpful, I am by no means a parent but I will have to say that this book offered much for me to learn and has helped me out tremendously. Of course there were the difficult parts to read or the longing for parents to have given me knowledge of what it means to be a daughter of God but thank you Jonathan for being that parent mentor for me through this book! Plus, the difficult parts to read were only difficult because of the truth being revealed. If you are anyone struggling with the lies of the world, especially on sex, give this book a chance. It truly has changed my life! God Bless!

[Michael Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

There can be no denying (unless you want to play the role of the ostrich with their head in the sand) that our children are being exposed at earlier and earlier ages to all manner of sexual perversion. The statistics are staggering on the sheer amount of young people viewing sexually explicit material as well as engaging in sex and sexual related activities. What is a parent to do? What are ways parents can get involved in the battle for the hearts and minds of their children? What do we do when our child asks us about some element of sexually intimate information they heard in the back of the bus on the way home from elementary school? Jonathan McKee, in his truly outstanding book More Than Just the Talk: Becoming Your Kids’ Go-To Person about Sex, equips parents with information, practical application, and a needed kick in the pants.

McKee shares some sobering stats in the first part of this book that might take many parents by surprise, especially those parents who actually believe their precious children would never be exposed to or involve themselves with sex or sexually explicit material. The facts prove otherwise which should spur parents into action. The problem is most parents have not been properly equipped to deal with these issues. As McKee notes, if sex is spoken about in the home, it is either pictured as something dirty or one of the parents does a 5 minute dance around the issue known as “the talk”. Neither approach is effective or useful as sex was created by God to be enjoyed in the confines of covenant marriage and a single talk is wholly insufficient.

For the many parents out there, including myself, who are struggling with or desire to understand how to talk with your kids about God’s design for sex, McKee’s book is an excellent starting place. The information and discussion points throughout this book are very pointed and rightfully so. As the parent of a 13 year old daughter, I can attest to the fact that our kids are being exposed to all sorts of sexual perversion and are far more attuned and knowledgeable about matters of sexuality than we would like to admit.

McKee’s consistent urging of parent’s to have dialogue vice monologue with their children about sex is highly important. If you do not have that dialogue, a continual dialogue mind you with your children about sex, the information flow will not stop. They will simply do a Google search and be presented with the false lies of the world when it comes to matters of sex and sexuality. McKee is insistent throughout this book on the need for parents to be parents. Step up to the plate and engage your children in conversation in an age appropriate manner. Stop reacting and teach the truth of God’s Word and His design for sex to your children whenever the opportunity arises and as McKee shares in this book, the opportunities for such conversation take place every single day. Teaching moments abound and we must take advantage of them.

What I found most engaging about this book apart from the honest and frank discussion points was the practical nature of McKee’s approach and guidance to the reader. He speaks from not just his experience working with children, but also as a parent who has gone through the very issues he is addressing. I appreciated his recommendation for parents to institute guidelines regarding access to electronic devices. This is an issue my wife and I are dealing with in our own home, namely the far too easy access children have to sexually explicit material. Our kids are just a couple of clicks away from hard-core pornographic material. Parents who think otherwise are simply fooling themselves and doing their children harm by ignoring these stark facts. McKee devotes an entire chapter to the problem of pornography and if parents read nothing else in this book, I recommend they pay special attention to what McKee shares in that portion.

Additionally, the chapter titled “Tough Questions” is a handy reference for those questions your child will (or should if you implement the strategies provided in this book) fire your direction. Questions your child may ask ranging from “How Far Can I Go” to “What About Masturbation” are answered with both grace and directness by McKee in a way that provides parents a way to engage in that must have dialogue with their children. If you do not have that dialogue, someone will and they will not be sharing the truth of God’s Word.

I urge all parents to take the time to read this book and more importantly, to take what McKee says to heart. The recommendations he provides are biblical, practical, timely, and a must for parents to implement immediately if they are not already. The enemy would love nothing more than to warp our children’s perspective on sex and as godly parents, we need to do battle against the garbage the world is presenting all around us. McKee’s book will help you to just that, namely to share God’s design for sex with your children, something we should be doing early and often so they will embrace what God has for them in this area of their life in the proper time with the proper person God has for them in the covenant of marriage.

I received this book for free from Bethany House for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Abigail Ames · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book when I was a teenager. Yes, it’s for parents, but it answers many questions that I’ve had since I first learned about sex. I love that McKee speaks plainly and openly and there are so many facts backed up by studies that affirm that the Bible truly holds the key to happiness when it comes to sexual relationships. It’s like the puzzle pieces finally fit together and make sense. The Bible backs up the words and studies prove it to be true. This is probably going to be the best book on sex I’ll ever read!

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It boils down to - TALK TO YOUR KIDS! Don’t shy away from the tough questions. Also, teach your kids how to discern lies vs. truth- help them think for themselves. The author does a great job being real and compassionate towards the moral struggles of today’s kids.

[Ashley Gustafson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to parents with kids of any age. Jonathan does an incredible job laying out God’s plan for sex, why his plan is best, and addressing the many questions kids (and adults) may have. Loved it!

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read - good ideas and suggestions in talking with teens

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew up in a home that did not talk about sex. I still remember "the talk" my mom had with me when I was much too old to just then be having the talk. I simply informed her that I already knew about it and after a few embarrassing moments and comments we went back to what we were doing beforehand and never talked about it again. Really, I didn't know very much, but I was too embarrassed to talk about it with my mom and I figured I heard and would continue to hear enough at school to fill in the gaps. I will say I filled in the gaps pretty badly. I'll spare you all the sordid details of my misconceptions, but lets just say it was far from being lined up with what the Word of God says.

Now I am a mother myself and times have sure changed since I was a young girl. Kids face much more and at an earlier age than anything I ever faced. We live in a world where sex is everywhere you look. It's not only exposed to our children's eyes, but their ears as well. I am thankful to be a homeschool mom. There are strict rules in place in our home, but no matter how strict the rules you can not shelter your kids from everything. Standing in a grocery store they merely have to look at the magazines in the checkout line to be bombarded with sexual images and words, shopping in a clothing store or eating in a fast food restaurant a song comes over the speakers with sexually explicit lyrics or even sitting at home watching a family show on television a commercial comes on that is not fit for christian adults eyes let alone a young person.

It's important to keep and open line of communication with your children, to talk to them about sex. Will it be embarrassing at times? Yes. Will it feel awkward? Probably. But if you do not talk to your teenager I can guarantee that they will get their knowledge elsewhere.

More Than Just the Talk: Becoming Your Kids Go-To Person About Sex by by Jonathan Mckee is a book for parents. It is very informative in opening a parents eyes to what young people are faced with on a daily basis. It equips parents with the "how to's" of how to face the challenges of talking and keeping an open line of communication with your teen. It's very straightforward. The author does share plenty of Bible verses and I think it is a good book for parents with public schooled children. Maybe it was too straightforward, but something about the book made me a little uncomfortable. Maybe the fact that it was written my a man and I'm just old fashion.

With that being said...I have to say, that I think there are better books out there on the subject of sex that are more suitable for christian and homeschool families. Don't get me wrong. I know that just because I homeschool doesn't keep my family immune to the world, but I think that for our family a different book is better suited for us. Yes, we talk about sex. I just approach it differently than this book advises. If I had a kid in public school I would probably have a different opinion, but since I don't and my teenager is not exposed to worldly things at such a high level I feel that a more Christ centered approach is better for us.

***This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Virginia Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you had REAL conversations with your child about sex? Notice, the word conversations is plural, have you had multiple conversations with your child(ren) about sex? Do they know you're a safe person for them to come to with their questions? Do you know how to answer their questions?

Have you had "the talk" with your child(ren), wiped your palms together and declared, "Whew! I'm so glad that's done!"? Or maybe you're waiting until your child is older, desiring to hang on to their innocence a little longer.

Guess what? The world isn't waiting. No, the world is shoving it down their little throats almost from the hospital nursery. Everywhere, every day they are bombarded with images, phrases, words, conversations that are about sex. The television shows they watch, the music they listen to, the kids in the halls at school, the magazine covers at the checkout lane at Target and the grocery store all shout SEX to our child.

What are we doing to provide the truth? Are we openly discussing sex with them?

Jonathan McKee, author of More than Just The Talk, gives you the tools to have those conversations. Jonathan has spent twenty years in youth ministry and is an expert on youth culture.

In More Than Just The Talk, my eyes were opened. I knew some of what goes on, but not all, and not near enough. I've been open with my girls about dressing modestly. Since they were young I've pointed out pretty dresses, dresses that were pretty but not modest. We've openly talked about the importance of being modest. We've set rules for the media devices they have.

But we could always do more.

If you're like we are, seeing the need but not feeling equipped to meet the need, or knowing how to even bring it up, please, buy this book, read it and start having those conversations.

Yes, I said conversations. Not lectures. Dialogue with your child. Ask them what they think. Share your thoughts. Show them why you think/believe/behave that way. Set an example for them.

I enjoyed reading this book. The advice is practical, timely and helpful. It is full of personal stories and topics that encompass the gamut of questions our children will (or could) have. The one part of the book I did not like was the 20 page chapter on Your Daughter compared to the 10 page chapter on Your Son. I believe we should be just a diligent in talking to our sons and giving them tools to deal with this aspect of their life as we are our girls. Yes, girls need to know how men think, however guys need to know how to deal with the females who choose to dress and/or act immodestly.

Jonathan McKee is an expert on youth culture and the author of more than a dozen books, including Sex Matters, Get Your Teenager Talking and The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in your Pocket. He has twenty years of youth-ministry experience and speaks to parent and leaders worldwide. He also writes about parenting and youth culture while providing free resources at TheSourch4Parents.com. Jonathan, his wife, Lori, and their three kids live in Norther California

I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.

[Christian Fiction Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you just aren't sure how to prepare your kids to have a healthy view of sex in our seemingly sex crazed world, then Jonathan McKee's book is just what you've been waiting for! McKee takes a candid look at the issues our children are facing in their childhoods, and quickly dismantles myths parents may believe, such as thinking their children would never even THINK of words like oral sex or masturbation. Rather, McKee shows, from scripture and research, that we need to have honest conversations with our children from a young age. McKee encourages parents that "parents rarely introduce their kids to temptation while trying to tell them the truth". He's not encouraging parents to download too much information onto their children. But a quick look at the media around us, from t.v. shows to magazines to song lyrics, shows that our kids are being exposed to a sex-crazed world and they need to know how to handle it. Our children need to know that sex is a wonderful gift from God, but that our loving Father has put boundaries and limits around that gift. I greatly appreciate that the author bases this book on scripture, teaching parents how to raise subjects like sex before marriage and pornography and masturbation and homosexuality by starting with the Bible. The book is easy to read and laid out in clear, logical chapters that provide a wealth of information for parents who just don't know where to start. McKee isn't afraid to tackle the toughest of questions, and whether parents agree with every single thing he says or not, they will come away from this book empowered to truly become their children's "Go-To" person about sex.

If you would rather have your children come to you with their sex-related questions, instead of stumbling across something on the internet or asking that older teen down the road, then grab a copy of "More than Just The Talk". You will be glad you did. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

How do you approach your children and teenager’s questions about sexuality and its place in God’s plan for husbands and wives who are married and committed only to each other? Not too long ago, parents addressed the topic of sex with their teenagers with a one-time talk that may or may not have answered all questions.

Author Jonathan McKee, in his new book More than Just the Talk: Becoming Your Kids’ Go-To Person About Sex, explains to us that in a culture of lies and sexual perversions, our children need to be able to feel comfortable enough to come to us about all sexual questions and concerns about sexual behaviors or they will get explanations and lies from inaccurate and wrong sources.

Drawing upon his experience as a youth counselor, McKee introduces parents to the loud voices that youth face every day regarding their sexuality and how those voices and influences often go directly against God’s commandment that sexual relations exist only between a man and a woman married to each other.

With specific examples to underscore his experiences working with youth, McKee offers practical suggestions of how parents and influential adults can teach youth to understand for themselves why waiting for sexual relations within marriage is worth the wait. He also discusses common lies and misunderstandings that youth often have about sex and how that affects their behavior when they do not understand God’s law.

Finally, McKee addresses pervasive sexual perversions, like pornography, that youth confront in our culture and how responsible adults can teach and help youth understand the dangers of accepting and participating in activities that distort God’s true purpose for sexual relations.

Overall, McKee presents a candid, informative message of how to approach our youth with candor and honesty as we help them understand for themselves why sex is good when it complies with God’s laws, and why sex is harmful to them when distorted, perverted, and casually approached outside of God’s prescribed boundaries. Bethany House gave me a complimentary copy of More than Just the Talk by Jonathan McKee for my candid review.

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

More Than Just the Talk: Becoming Your Kids' Go-To Person about Sex

About the Book:

A youth expert reveals how to become your kids' key source of information about dating, temptation, purity, and sex by engaging them in open, ongoing conversations.


About the Author:

Jonathan McKee is an expert on youth culture and the author of more a dozen books, including Sex Matters, Get Your Teenager Talking, and The Guy's Guide to God, Girls, and the Phone in Your Pocket.


My Review:

I have one teenager at the moment. She just happens to be our only daughter, and when it came time for "the talk", my husband and I chose to be really explicit with her. At an early age we started sort of talking around things so not as to overwhelm her, but as she got older we would shed a little more light on sex and everything involving it. She is now 17 almost 18 and we have pretty much explained everything out as they say. I totally agree with being totally and completely honest with your teen. Sugarcoating isn't a good idea it gives the child a false sense of reality and that is never good.


The really good thing about More Than Just Talk is it's designed for both boys and girls. And the author covers everything from dating to temptation to the actual s word itself. He covers all his bases pretty well. It is by far the best book I have read on the subject as of late. This book gives you conversation starters to get the ball rolling and to keep it rolling. It is an excellent help to those of us that just don't know where to begin on teaching our kids about this very important subject.


He also gives you a lot of information as well as statistics. and I will be frank some of these statistics are just heart-breaking. This book is worth the look especially for anyone with teenagers in the home or that will anytime soon.


**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Bethany House.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I received More Than Just "The Talk" in the mail, the irony of me reviewing this book brought a few laughs. I am, after all, a married woman with no children. However, I quickly realized that it was important for me to read this book at this pre-children stage of life.

In More Than Just "The Talk," Jonathan McKee uses present-day examples, research, his experience, and Scripture to give parents the knowledge to confidently approach conversations about sex with their children. He emphasizes the importance of regular conversations throughout childhood instead of one hallmark talk - often referred to as The Talk. McKee provides realistic ways to answer the tough questions that children and teenagers ask. He includes a sampling of questions, but also gives parents the tools to answer unexpected questions, or to buy time if the parent needs time to form an answer.

I also appreciated how McKee uses More Than Just "The Talk" to review parental reactions to their child who is struggling with sexual temptation, including sexual promiscuity, pornography addiction, or masturbation. His recommendations balance God's forgiveness, the reality of consequences, and ways to learn from mistakes.

I didn't always enjoy McKee's writing style; however, More Than Just "The Talk" was easy to read and included repeated review of content that I believe would be helpful for readers. More Than Just "The Talk" would also be a beneficial read for mentors, grandparents, youth leaders, teachers, pastors, and anyone who interacts with children or youth on a routine basis.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do I need just one big, huge Talk with my kids about sex? Of course not. There is too much to cover and teach in just one conversation. A good relationship with your children and ongoing conversations about sex will help your kids see sex as God designed. More Than Just The Talk: Becoming Your Kids’ Go-to Person about Sex by Jonathan McKee is the book to help parents communicate that sex is good between married couples.


Do not present sex as something that is bad because it is not. It is wonderful in God’s plan. We have to be careful not to say sex is naughty because it is right in a covenant, married relationship with your spouse. When kids have sexual thoughts, will they think they are bad because of the message we communicate about sex? The author gives clear examples of how to react to TV shows and music with sexual content. We can either overreact or calmly explain what might happen to a character on a show that is acting irresponsible.


This book is right for this time in my life. I have twins who just turned 10 years old. I know a willingness to talk openly about sex will help my children. Some things that are discussed in this book may make you uncomfortable because you are not ready to discuss such a personal subject. This author wants us to know that kids and the messages around them is already talking about sex. It’s just that the messages are filled with lies. The world boldly declares that sex when you want it is good. Parents have to be bold enough to speak the truth about sex.


The task of talking about sex with your children can be difficult. More Than Just The Talk is what can get you through this awkward subject with your kids.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great and needed book!! It was well written and easy to read — not due to the subject matter, but I guess you could say in spite of the subject matter. Jonathan McKee’s humor was just the right amount to lighten the mood of the reader (no defeatist attitude here!) while not making lessing the importance of such this issue. This book was both eye-opening and encouraging. He has a chapter specifically written towards helping our daughters and another for our sons. His “How Far?” chapter has a perfect example involving a toothbrush and a toilet!! (You’ll have to check that out!!) He also helps readers as parents and leaders who are guiding kids as they understand and stay away from issues like porn and masturbation. His “Tough Questions” chapter is a good resources to address specific questions he has heard from kids and parents.

Continuing conversations, asking questions, and building relationships are huge parts of “becoming your kids’ go-to person about sex”! His tips for keeping conversations open are…

*Don’t Overreact
*Don’t Make Sex “Naughty”
*Keep Your Eyes Open for Natural Springboards
*Ask, Listen…Repeat

My husband and I want to help our kids in the areas of purity. We want them to guard their hearts and their eyes as they grow and mature. We want them to look forward to experiencing God’ wonderful gift of sex in marriage!!

Resources like this book are welcomed tools for us as parents!

I received this book for free from Bethany House in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion.

[Janelle Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to get my hands on a copy of this new book, because quite honestly this is a subject we need to be talking about in my home much more than we are! So I was hoping it would be a book that would help us do a better job!

9780764212949

More than Just the Talk is a book for parents, and it will lead you through subject by subject to equip you for talks with your young people. This is not a book I would just hand to my kids as some of the discussion may be beyond the details they need at that time. However I loved Jonathan McKee's approach, and that he remained very biblical in his addressing of touchy topics.

Chapters in this book include

Voice - addressing peer pressure

The Quiet Voices - hiding issues or not asking questions

Opening Doorway of communication

How Far - answering the typical "how far can I go question"

Your Daughter

Your Son

Fleeing

The Lure of Porn

and three more ....

I felt that this book dealt very directly with some touchy topics and not only offered insight into what the youth of today are facing but also strategies for parents to help our kids navigate this tough season of life. This book is a wonderful resource for anyone with kids in the throws of puberty!!

NOTE : I was offered a copy of More than just The Talk in exchange for an honest review by Bethany House.

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an excellent resource to help parents (and youth workers) have the often difficult conversations with teens about sex. Jonathan McKee provides insight into youth culture and the messages teens are hearing about sex, statistics that give an overview of how those messages are impacting our kids, and solid advice on how to engage our kids with the biblical perspective on God's gift of sex.

This book is built on solid research that parents will find helpful, but the real strength of this book is in McKee's willingness to explicitly tackle the questions teens have about sex. He prepares you to deal with questions that many Christian books on this topic fail to even address, although they are questions are teens definitely want answered. Our kids are hearing incorrect and deceptive messages about sex from all directions every day. We must be willing to continually have conversations with our teens that point them to the truth. This book is the best resource that I've come across to prepare parents for having the conversations that we often find difficult to tackle. I'll be using and recommending this book often in my youth ministry.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very helpful book. McKee equips the reader with the knowledge and encouragement to get past the awkwardness and establish regular, open communication with your kids. Good book.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parents use to be able to have "the talk" with their children and leave it at that. But today our children are constantly coming in contact with sex in some aspect or another. With phones, internet, and television being so accessible we, as parents, need to be super vigilant about what our children are coming in contact with. And this means knowing the dangers and being comfortable talking to our kids about them.

This author really knew his stuff. He presented facts and statistics in an easy to read and digest manner. The information is often difficult to read, but he did a great job of making it relevant and applicable. I liked how he seemed to touch on every subject a parent might come up against and then gave practical ways to deal with it. His focus was from a Christian stand point and was well rounded and straight forward. This book is about sex, so be prepared. But it is definitely a book that all parents should be reading.

I received this book free of charge from Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Talk. It has caused many parents to become dumb in their speech. What do I say? How do I say it? Are our kids even ready for this type of talk? In his book, More That Just the Talk, Jonathan McKee gives some practical, and wise advice on how to have "the talk." What I liked about this book is that it is simple. Parents should be able to have conversations like this with their children but not get medical. However, that first requires openness on the part of the parents.

McKee suggests to not avoid the talk or shroud it but rather answer questions that your children might have. Also, he gives resources to give solid, Biblical answers because the world will also give "answers" that sound so close to the truth that the lie is hard to detect. However, when answered Biblically, and in love, children are more likely to see the truth and avoid the lies. In that aspect, the book presents itself well and lives up to its intent.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Thank Just the Talk by Jonathan McKee is a great book to encourage parents to talk about tough sexual topics with their children. He gives examples of questions, Biblical advice, and gives suggestions to help parents through this tough time.

My favorite quote of the book was in answer to the "How far is too far?" question. His answer is don't do anything that you wouldn't do in front of your grandma. Thinking about my own parents and my children, I would say that is pretty sound advice, and something that I wish someone had said to me. Jonathan's down to earth advice is very helpful in encouraging parents in today's media-friendly world in which kids are simply exposed to things in a way that we weren't when we were kids.

I was given a free copy of this book from Bethany Publishing House in exchange for my honest review. I recommend this book.

[Kasey Cocoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many parents get befuddled when they try to have a frank discussion with their children about sex. Children sense the awkwardness, the embarrassment, the confusion, and they attach those to the experience of sex. Being able to sit down with them and have a conversation filled with trust, confidence and facts will help prepare them for the encounters they -will- have in life. McKee does a fine job at laying it out in a manner that is easy to understand and digest. Even parents who feel they have a good grasp on the topic could benefit from reading this book. Overall it is well designed and easy to read and is filled with valuable information. I received an ARC through Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.

[Kelly Bartholomew petzold · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book. This is a must have book for the shelves of all parents of teenagers. Sex is a tough conversation to have. It's more than just the birds and the bees, but talking about what is appropriate, how you feel, what you should do and how to flee from situations that make you uncomfortable. This is not just about the act of sex, but how society portrays sex to our teens. It is everywhere - literally - and our teens need to know they are not alone with how they are feeling. The strategies in this book are wonderful. I want my teenager to feel safe to come to ME, rather than rely on societal norms for their education and understanding of sex.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is concise and convicting in it's call to having a real talk with teens about sex. As a youth worker and parent it makes me want to do more for my own kids, my youth group kids, and their parents. This is a go to book for youth workers and parents if you want to deepen the conversation about sex, purpose, and life with your teens.

[Sarah]

This is an eye opening book for parents. Jonathan fills it with so much informaton about today's society and sex. WOW....words cannot describe it.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read on the subject for sure. Great information and well written.

[Book Nerds In MN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, some things I didn't necessarily agree with, but any book like this will have those things to deal with. Great resource for anyone working with families with young children to teens.