![Children who obtain alcohol from people other than their parents are three times more likely to binge drink by 15 or 16.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/f/o/1/5/image.related.landscape.380x253.gtm96y.png/1483611038649.jpg)
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![Bottomless pit: One description of a teenage boy going through puberty.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/3/r/8/t/g/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.13sa6d.gjzq20.png/1444657597816.jpg)
How to tell when your son has hit puberty
The transition of your baby-faced angelic son into a teenager can be a challenging time, especially when you’ve never had to deal with the hormones that can descend upon your home like a cyclone.
![<i></i>](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/3/r/t/n/i/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.13zqlm.gjzq20.png/1444658197333.jpg)
How to tell when your daughter is going through puberty
Are you worried about knowing how to tell when your sweet fairy-loving princess reaches puberty? Are you having trouble finding out because said ‘princess’ is locked up in her room?
![Why starting puberty early matters.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/4/0/s/a/c/image.related.landscape.120x80.givov3.gjzq20.png/1444655131111.jpg)
![ek-puberty-precocious-thumb](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/2/p/6/r/4/image.related.landscape.120x80.2p6qx.gjzq20.png/1444091436001.jpg)
![Changes](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/1/j/t/a/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.1jh89.gjzq20.png/1444628228286.jpg)
![Talking about how and why her body will change.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/3/7/g/l/y/image.related.landscape.120x80.37fnr.gjzq20.png/1444091436001.jpg)
Latest
![Tammin Sursok has penned an emotional letter to her 13-year-old self.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/7/d/z/7/image.related.landscape.300x200.gt7dm4.png/1481616537439.jpg)
Tammin Sursok pens powerful letter to her overweight 13-year-old-self
Actress and entrepreneur Tammin Sursok has penned a powerful letter to her 13-year-old self, which shines a light on the struggles of overweight teenagers.
![It is believed about 43 per cent of online porn users start between the ages of 11 and 13.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/5/1/h/x/image.related.landscape.300x200.gt4p6c.png/1482049166170.jpg)
Porn ruins sex for teens and beyond
Why aren't we outraged by our children having 24/7 easy access to degrading content? t's not good enough to say adults can choose. These are kids and what they learn as acceptable they carry through life and relationships.
![Miranda Kerr on the cover of <i>Dolly</i> magazine.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/1/1/o/p/image.related.landscape.300x200.gt0zu5.png/1480563683957.jpg)
Dolly magazine axes its print edition after 48 years
Teen magazine Dolly has axed its print edition after 48 years of publishing.
![We shouldn't expect boys to just know about sex, we need to teach them.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/j/f/f/j/image.related.landscape.300x200.grupyo.png/1478474987085.jpg)
Sex guide for teen boys picks up where parents leave off
Even the most progressive of parents can be forgiven for fumbling parts of the sex talk.
![The game that hopes to normalise talking about periods for kids.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/f/j/n/8/image.related.landscape.300x200.gsf5p5.png/1477978049244.jpg)
The Period Game that hopes to teach children about menstruation
A new board game is encouraging girls to 'go with the flow' in more ways than one.
![The importance of keeping the conversation going as your kids become teenagers.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/f/f/8/7/image.related.landscape.300x200.gsf159.png/1477985684218.jpg)
Why do we stop asking for help once our kids become teenagers?
The open, helpful dialogue we shared when our kids were young disappears once they hit the teenage years.
![Ella Jane Brookbanks with her "moody" teenage son.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/f/9/5/d/image.related.landscape.300x200.grf8wb.png/1473742574332.jpg)
Fed-up mum posts ad to give away her "moody" teen
If you have ever had to live with a hormonal moody teenager then you will feel for Ella Jane Brookbanks.
![School sends home worksheet with error that informs students they can "reuse a condom".](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/f/6/h/b/image.related.landscape.300x200.grew4v.png/1473738845274.jpg)
UK school's horrific sex ed typo informs students they can 'reuse' condoms
A UK school has issued students with a sex education homework sheet that appears to inform them that they can reuse a condom.
![Buying your daughter her first bra is getting harder.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/c/f/r/j/image.related.landscape.300x200.grcemv.png/1473380201011.jpg)
Bra for tweens to hide 'imperfections' highlights angst of your first bra
This incident has highlighted an uncomfortable truth about bra shopping – it's getting harder.
![Mel Watts: the face says it all.](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/3/h/c/8/image.related.landscape.300x200.gr3hbs.png/1472437701635.jpg)
Mel Watts forced to have the sex talk with her son sooner than she planned
Mel Watts reveals the mortifying moment she "stripped her son's childhood" away from him.
![<i></i>](/web/20170107072953im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/k/c/q/3/image.related.landscape.300x200.gqkbwm.png/1470210874166.jpg)
Preparing your daughter to fight the media messages that belittle her worth
Increasing concerns about the sexualisation of girls in the media has prompted a new report addressing the issue.
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