Create a Judgment-Free Zone

The best way to keep the lines of communication open so your teenager will come to you with their sex-related questions (and you do want them to come to you and not some random kid in their school for information, right?) is to create a judgment-free zone. No lecture, no opinions; just report the facts and allow your kid to make their own informed decisions. Of course, if you let them share their thoughts, they may even ask you about yours. But your job is to help them think critically, which means you may not always agree. And that’s okay.

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About Melissa Ford

Melissa Ford is the senior strategist at Women Online. As a writer, she covers a diverse range of topics including education, health, technology, and parenting. She is also the mother of amazing twin teens.

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