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Youth services educator Lizzie urges parents to keep an 'open door' for talks on puberty, consent and online safety
Summary
At a parent workshop Lizzie, who leads a SHARE program at Youth Services, told parents to prioritize relationship-building, validate feelings and use practical tools (OARS, SOI, 'wonder aloud') so children will talk about puberty, consent and online risks. She advised enforceable tech boundaries and to treat disclosure of explicit images as a reportable safety concern.
Lizzie, a program lead at Youth Services who oversees a SHARE (sexual health and relationship education) program, told parents at a community workshop that keeping an “open door” to conversation is the single most important step they can take to help children navigate puberty, consent and online risks.
“Your job is to keep your door open as much as possible so that when…their door opens just the tiniest, tiniest bit, you are ready,” Lizzie said, urging parents to be available and to avoid shaming or dismissive reactions that can close communication.
Why it matters: Lizzie said research shows young people frequently turn to parents first for information about sexual health and relationships, and that ongoing, age‑appropriate conversations are linked to safer, more informed choices. She framed the work…
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