![The vogue for sexting is sad, narcissistic and depressing, but it is also, crucially, attention-seeking.](/web/20170530181900im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/o/k/y/s/image.related.landscape.380x253.gvokl0.png/1492666848984.jpg)
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![Bottomless pit: One description of a teenage boy going through puberty.](/web/20170530181900im_/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/20170530181900im_/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/20170530181900im_/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/20170530181900im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/2/p/6/r/4/image.related.landscape.120x80.2p6qx.gjzq20.png/1444091436001.jpg)
![Changes](/web/20170530181900im_/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/20170530181900im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/3/7/g/l/y/image.related.landscape.120x80.37fnr.gjzq20.png/1444091436001.jpg)
Latest
!["Don't have sex till you're 30," is what parents really want to say.](/web/20170530181900im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/p/w/1/w/image.related.landscape.300x200.gupnk4.png/1488505228777.jpg)
Struggling with your child's sex ed? Let me help you
Will our tears wash away the internet? No. So - onward, with this handy Modern Parents' Guide to Modern Sex Education.
![Movie time](/web/20170530181900im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/6/i/b/f/image.related.landscape.300x200.gu6e3m.png/1486355663220.jpg)
What I said when my daughter asked me how many sexual partners I've had
I recently sat down to watch Mamma Mia! with my 12 year old daughter. A perfect family movie for a Sunday afternoon, or so I thought. And, not to mention, a brilliant introduction for a young woman to start to appreciate the body of work of Meryl Streep.
![Her only crime is being on the precipice of puberty.](/web/20170530181900im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/5/0/y/9/image.related.landscape.300x200.gu2z5b.png/1486617354110.jpg)
Dear men, it's not OK to comment on a pre-teen girl's looks
She is 10 years old. How dare he sexualise my daughter, says Tracey Spicer.
![12-year-old Brooke's mum threw her a first "period party" - complete with cake.](/web/20170530181900im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/v/7/b/m/image.related.landscape.300x200.gtv5ax.png/1484874072780.png)
Mum throws a 'first period party' for her daughter - complete with guests and cake
Cast your mind back to the moment you got your first period. It's likely you'll remember an array of feelings - excitement, embarrassment, confusion.
![Children who obtain alcohol from people other than their parents are three times more likely to binge drink by 15 or 16.](/web/20170530181900im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/f/o/1/5/image.related.landscape.300x200.gtm96y.png/1483611854907.jpg)
Study finds kids given alcohol by parents less likely to binge drink
Children who obtain alcohol from people other than their parents are three times more likely to binge drink by 15 or 16, compared to those given a drink by their parents, a major new study has found
![It's about listening to yourself and figuring out what you need in each moment.](/web/20170530181900im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/j/p/m/m/image.related.landscape.300x200.gtj2yh.png/1483430915997.jpg)
Tips for teaching daughters about body kindness
Most parents want to raise strong girls who feel good about their bodies and don't obsess about being thin. But how?
![Dad hilariously narrates his teen's "every day" makeup routine.](/web/20170530181900im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/f/u/r/q/image.related.landscape.300x200.gtftow.png/1482361342560.png)
Dad narrates teen daughter's makeup video - and it's hilarious
A dad has narrated his teen daughter's YouTube makeup video - and the hilarious result has gone viral.
![Tammin Sursok has penned an emotional letter to her 13-year-old self.](/web/20170530181900im_/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/20170530181900im_/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/20170530181900im_/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/20170530181900im_/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.
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