Having 'the talk' with your teen

It can be more than a little uncomfortable talking to Mom and Dad about the birds and the bees, especially for adolescents who are just being introduced to the subject.

Panhandle Health District understands this and wants to make this important conversation a positive and productive one for parents, grandparents, guardians and others who are helping to guide teens and preteens through life.

The fourth annual Bridging the Gap event is dedicated to helping with this daunting task.

"It's really cool because we have parents attend and we have a group of teens attend who have been trained on how to help parents have these discussions with their own kids," PHD public information officer Katherine Hoyer said Tuesday. "It's an awesome way to have parents become involved in a subject that is really sensitive."

Bridging the Gap is an interactive workshop that helps break the ice on the topics of sex, sexually-transmitted diseases and healthy relationships as well as the influence and presence of sex in social media.

"There is so much misinformation online now that kids have access to," Hoyer said. "I think the last place you want your child finding information on these tough topics is online."

Attendees will engage with health education specialists and the trained teens, who will give the parents opportunities to practice scenarios on how to speak with their own children.

"Parents will walk away with the knowledge and skills to speak with their children within the comfort of their own home," PHD health education specialist Alicia Keller said in a press release.

Bridging the Gap is free and will include a complimentary dinner for the first 30 attendees. It will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. April 11 at the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn at 506 W. Appleway Ave., Coeur d'Alene.

Registration is required, seating is limited and guests are encouraged to arrive early.

To register: www.btg2019freetickets.eventbrite.com