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Age-Appropriate Instruction in Natural Family Planning
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is relevant to everyone, including young people in the Church. Why?-
First of all, it’s just healthy. Health is studied in school every year. NFP is the natural and safe way to monitor and understand reproductive health.
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Contraception is commonly encouraged in the secular world, but it’s not the answer. Young people should understand what the faith teaches regarding these matters, and why.
NFP relates to countless relevant topics such as family, marriage, dating, relationships, chastity, and the body.
Below are a few resources regarding NFP available for both young people, and adults who wish to teach young people about it.
Curriculum Resources
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Ascension Press offers programs to introduce Theology of the Body to teens, and middle school aged children. Each program comes with a DVD, Parent’s Guide, Leader’s Guide, and Student Workbook.
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You: Life, Love, and Theology of the Body program is a new program designed for teens. It replaces the previous Theology of the Body for Teens program offered by Ascension Press.
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The Theology of the Body for Teens (Middle-School Edition) is a program designed for middle ages.
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The Family Life program from RCL Benziger is designed for use in K-8 schools and parishes.
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Contraception: The Real Story - This sixteen-part video educational resource is helpful for parents, diocesan staff, teachers, Catholic physicians, and parents.
Resources for Teenagers
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Theology of Her Body and Theology of His Body are two books in one that provide answers for young men and women about love and sexuality, available on the Chastity project website
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David Hajduk writes for teenagers about Theology of The Body in his book, God’s Plan for You.
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The Sisterhood of Catholic Women and Adolescence (Presented by the St. Agustine Foundation) - teaches women about God’s plan for their sexuality with a focus on Fertility Awareness and Chastity.
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“Healthy Cycle, Healthy You!” is a free, practical guide designed to go deeper into the beauty of the menstrual cycle through a Catholic lens.
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13 Week online course for Women and Adolescence covers Fertility Awareness, Catholic Sexual Morality, Chastity, Contraception, Abortion and Pornography
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Cherry Blossom Buds is a fertility and chastity education program for mothers and their daughters ages 5 thru 22. It prepares girls for menarche (the first menstrual period), and then continues their formation through age-appropriate fertility and chastity education–all centered within the family.
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Teen STAR USA - An NFP-based sex-ed curriculum for teenagers.
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LifeTeen youth ministers discuss NFP in many of their blog posts:
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Read this article: "3 Myths About Teaching Teens about Fertility Awareness" (from NaturalWomanhood.org)
- Teen Q and A about NFP (Source: Archdiocese of St. Louis Office of Natural Family Planning)
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Mother-Daughter/Father-Son Programs: The Mother-Daughter program model provides an opportunity to hold a parish (or cohort level) gathering of grandmothers, mothers and daughters (middle school age and above) with a guest speaker who speaks on various topics of family life, motherhood and fatherhood from the Catholic perspective. The miracle of the human body, chaste love, and procreation would be included in the presentation, as well as mutual respect of spouses in marriage, and the role of parents as educators of the Catholic faith.
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The Father-Son model would be similar, with specific emphasis on respect for the dignity of women, chastity, and the important role of fathers and sons in the family. To plan a Mother-Daughter or Father-Son event, contact Peg Hensler in the Dept. of Evangelization and Family Life, phensler@dioceseoftrenton.org; 609-403-7156.
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