Sex, marriage and DIY: The talks dads avoid having with their kids

by My Kent Family reporter

mykentfamily@thekmgroup.co.uk

Sex, marriage – and car maintenance are among the topics of conversation dads DON’T enjoy having with their children, a study has found.

The poll of fathers and sons found more than three quarters of dads dread the theme of sex coming up in conversation with their offspring because they find it so embarrassing to discuss.

Almost one in five even admitted to feeling uncomfortable talking about personal grooming while more than one in 20 would be stumped by the topic of car maintenance.

It also emerged one in three dads have even tried to dodge a conversation altogether by giving a vague answer or pretending not to have heard in the first place.

One in 20 dads admitted to giving poor, or even the wrong advice on at least one occasion.

But despite the rise of online tutorials via YouTube and the thousands of ‘how to’ videos, 80% of dads still see it as the father’s role to talk to a son about important topics, including sex, personal appearance and relationships.

And while sons admit they would be most likely to turn to the internet for advice about sex, relationships or personal grooming, one in four still reckons their dad gives the best advice.

A spokesman for Gillette, which commissioned the research, said: “For the men of today, information is literally at their fingertips”

“At the touch of a button, smartphones serve as a gateway to countless how-to videos, resources and guides, in a matter of seconds.

“However, when it comes to advice on the more complicated issues that a young man will face, there is no better source than a dad.”

The survey found that 44%t of dads have felt uncomfortable talking to their children about certain subjects

The study of 1,000 fathers and 1,000 sons found 44% of dads have felt uncomfortable talking to their children about certain subjects, either because they were embarrassed or felt they didn’t know enough about the subject.

Sex is the theme most likely to leave fathers cringing, followed by relationships, first dates, personal hygiene and appearances.

Despite this, one in three sons say their dad is the first person they turn to for advice, with one in five admitting they would be lost without the help and advice of their father.

And many acknowledge their dad gives the best advice, with almost one in four dads having taught their son how to shave.