Yet, many parents still put off talking about tough issues with their children, according to a new national survey of parents and kids.
Parents are especially likely to delay talking about puberty, sex and related issues.
Even when parents and kids do talk, the survey finds that the message isn't always getting through. From a third to more than half of 8-11 year olds whose parents say they have talked with them about a particular issue do not recall the conversation. Now, to encourage earlier and more frequent parent-child communication. Kids confront issues in everyday life and often have to make tough choices. By adolescence, these issues loom even larger in young people's lives.