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, for example, 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 some subjects 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.

Parent Education Curricula and Resources

California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CEBC) for Child Welfare
CEBC provides a searchable database of child welfare programs, including parenting programs.

Parent-Child Communication Programs
Advocates for Youth summarizes research about parent-child communication programs.

Getting Started: Helping Parents and Children Talk
These tips and exercises from Advocates for Youth can be used with parents and families to develop their ability to talk about sex.

Tip Sheet: Parent-Child Communication (PDF)
The Family and Youth Services Bureau offers tips for integrating parent-child communication into your program.

Keep Connected
Developed by the Search Institute, Keep Connected is a seven-session workshop series for parents and their middle school children. The program gives parents and youth an opportunity to learn keys to positive family relationships and to try new ways to stay connected even as kids grow up and become more independent. Training is required for program delivery.

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.

Families Talking Together
Offered by the Center for Latino Adolescent and Family Health, this evidence-based curriculum is designed to help Latino parents talk with their children about unintended pregnancy. Training is required.

Resources for Parents

Center for Parent and Teen Communication: Talking with Teens
Based at the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Center for Parent and Teen Communication offers science-based strategies to support healthy family relationships.

Talking with Teens
This resource from the Office of Adolescent Health seeks to give parents and other caring adults the knowledge and skills they need to begin and maintain two-way communication with adolescents about sex, sexuality, and relationships.

TAG for Families
Through the Think, Act, Grow (TAG) initiative, the HHS Office of Adolescent Health offers action steps and resources for families looking to support their adolescents' health and development.

The Developmental Relationships Framework
Here, the Search Institute explores five relationship strategies: express care, challenge growth, provide support, share power, and expand possibilities.

Raising Teens: Five Basics of Parenting Adolescents
MIT's Raising Teens Project identifies five significant ways in which parents can influence healthy adolescent development.

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 Young People

Center for Parent and Teen Communication: Talking with Parents
Here, young people can learn tips for improving communication with parents, caregivers, and other adults.

Sex, Etc.: Communication Tool
This tool gives young people ideas for starting conversations about sex, pregnancy, sexual health, and sexuality with parents and other important people in their lives.

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

Planned Parenthood: For Teens
Planned Parenthood's web pages for teens cover a range of topics, including Talking with Your Parents about Sex.

Reference

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