![]() Are you comfortable in your clothes? If not, what kind of clothes do you think would help you feel more comfortable?.Would you like to try out new pronouns?.How can I help you? What do you need from me at home with family and at school with friends?.However, keep in mind that posing questions-like those related to what they need in the moment- may encourage them to explore and experiment with what could be gender affirming. While you might have lots of questions, try not to bombard them with all your questions all at once. ![]() One way to engage in active listening with your child is asking open-ended questions to encourage responses. Take a deep breath, sit tight, and pay attention to both the words and body language your child is sharing with you. Ask for what your trans child needs-and show upĪs a parent, it’s always helpful to master the skill of active listening, which means being present and engaged with what your child is saying rather than in your own head worrying or coming up with potential responses. While it’s difficult for a young person to hold space for their own identity, it’s much more difficult to be vulnerable with a caregiver, even if they trust you. Let them know it’s okay for them to not know everything, and that you will need time to learn more and catch up. Additionally, thank them for sharing their feelings with you. Let your child know you support their authentic self and that you accept them for who they are. While this three letter phrase is always important to remind your child, it also helps to back up these words with action that affirms them. “I love you” is a great and simple start. Reaffirming your love and their acceptance is a great start. Reassuring you’re a safe person to talk with and who will always care can go a long way for any transgender person, let alone a child. Go out of your way to articulate and show your love and support. It’s important to remember that they are still your precious child deserving of your unconditional love and support. As you talk more, both you and your child might be feeling many different emotions at once, including uncomfortable ones. Read below for some tips on navigating conversations as parents or allies of transgender children.įirst off, it’s important to express and reassure that you still love and care for your child no matter what their gender identity is, or may eventually be. Prepare to have a series of conversations and take your time to learn more about what your child is telling you and experiencing. How can you best prepare if your child comes out to you as trans and/or nonbinary? Understand that this person is the same person you loved and cherished as your child and family yesterday. ![]() Even if you are not a parent-such as a family member, friend, or someone who works with children and adolescents-being a supportive adult and ally is still important. If you’re a parent to a young person, there’s a possibility they could come out as transgender and/or nonbinary. Today’s youth are some of the most gender diverse yet.Īs both social and medical conversations become more advanced, we’re learning that there is a wide wide world of gender for persons of all ages to explore. According to the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Law and Public Policy at the UCLA School of Law, there are approximately 3.2 million LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 8 and 18 in the United States. ![]() Additionally, stay tuned for our parental support groups, soon to be available in our community content platform, INNERSPACE. Schedule a VHC visit with a FOLX clinician today to learn more about gender affirming care options for your child, teen, or adult. If you're a parent of a transgender and/or nonbinary child, teen, or adult, FOLX offers parental consults through our Virtual Healthcare visits, where you can get information on how to support your child through any of the following processes: questioning, social affirmation, legal affirmation, medical affirmation, surgical affirmation. ![]()
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