Parent-Child Communication

During adolescence, as teens naturally seek greater independence, it can be difficult to maintain connection between parent/caregiver and child. However, meeting this challenge offers real rewards, including a safer and healthier passage through the teen years. Parents and caregivers often underestimate their influence with their adolescent children. When it comes to decisions about sex, families can make all the difference. Teens who feel a sense of connection to and support from their parents, and teens who can talk to their parents about sex and contraception, are less likely to engage in certain risky sexual behaviors [1].

Positive family communication helps teens develop the values, security, and sense of worth that can lead to healthy decision making. Communication skills don't come naturally or easily to all of us, and talking about sex may be especially fraught. Program providers can help family members build their communication skills, and can also help parents and caregivers learn how to communicate positively, clearly, and accurately about sex.

Curricula and Resources

Resource Center for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (ReCAPP)
A project of ETR Associates, ReCAPP summarizes available research and offers activities designed to further parent-child connectedness.

• Parent-Child Connectedness: New Interventions for Teen Pregnancy Prevention
  Curriculum for a 90-minute workshop (PDF: 2.3M)
   
• Major Findings about Parent-Child Connectedness
  Summary of research findings with take-away messages for practitioners
   
• Parent-Child Connectedness: Voices of African-American and Latino Parents and Teens
  Focus group study (PDF: 823K)

Advocates for Youth
Advocates for Youth offers a variety of resources on parent-child communication:

• Parent-Child Communication Basics
  Education program
   
• Parent-Child Communication Info for Parents
  Round-up of resources for parents and practitioners
   
• Getting Started: Helping Parents and Children Talk
  Activities and tips that can be used with parents

Raising Healthy Kids: Families Talk about Sexual Health
Words Can Work videos and discussion guides prepare parents to talk about sex with young children and adolescents.

Parent-Adolescent Communication about Sex in Latino Families (PDF: 1.5M)
A publication of The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, this guide highlights research findings for practitioners, and provides parent communication tips in both English and Spanish.

Resources for Parents

Talking with Kids about Tough Issues
This national initiative by Children Now and the Kaiser Family Foundation encourages parents to talk with their children earlier and more often about tough issues like sex, HIV/AIDS, violence, alcohol, and drug abuse.

National Campaign Parent Portal
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy offers tips, tools, and research for parents.

There's No Place Like Home...for Sex Education
To help parents provide age-appropriate, accurate sex education, Advocates for Youth provides newsletters for parents of children at each grade level.

KidsHealth
Nemours Foundation offers resources and guidance to parents on positive parenting, growth and development, and sexual development.

PFLAG: Stay Close
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) encourages families and friends to stay close to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in their lives.

Resources for Youth

Sex, Etc.: Talking to Your Parents about Sex
Answer at Rutgers University offers tips and personal stories to help young people talk with their parents. Articles are written by peer educators.

Teens Health: Talking to Your Parents - or Other Adults
Nemours Foundation provides guidance and tips for young people.

Planned Parenthood: Info for Teens
Planned Parenthood's web pages for teens cover a range of topics, including:

• Talking with Your Parents about Sex
• Coming Out to Parents as LGBTQ

References

[1]	Kirby, D. & Lepore, B. A. (2007, November). Sexual risk and protective factors (PDF: 922K), 6-7. National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy.