Positive communication between parents and children is essential. When parents share their values with their children, children can then define positive personal values, establish better peer and social relationships and develop healthy emotional and physical behaviors. When parents exchange information and ideas with their children, children gain self-esteem and self-confidence, good decision-making skills and a healthy attitude for the transition to adulthood.

Adolescents who don't have good communication with their families or don't feel supported by their parents are more likely to have problems in school, use drugs and alcohol, and have trouble with the law. Parental hostility can block family problem-solving and negatively affect parent-adolescent relationships. Self-restraint is tied to interested and supportive parents, while uncontrolled behavior is associated with harsh parental discipline. Boys can turn to alcohol or drugs, both strongly associated with early sexual activity; girls may become depressed and more sexually active.

Parents are the best educators of children. Young people also say that parents are their preferred source of information, especially on issues of sexuality, but school, friends, television, film, videos, music books and magazines all compete for attention.