Puberty and Sex

How much should a 12-year-old learn about abortions?

A peck on the lips or cheek and hugs from you are fine, as long as they do not produce discomfort or inappropriate responses from your son.

Most pre-adolescents experience cattiness, but there are ways to boost their self-esteem.

Being gay has to do with much more than physical contact with a same-gender person.

A mother questions whether it would be inappropriate to allow her 14-year-old to wear thong underwear.

The wisdom of providing free condoms to high-school students remains under debate.

A 13-year-old asks what she should do to help her friend, who is having sex with older men. Our expert stresses the danger her friend is in.

Our expert concurs with a stepmother that her stepdaughter's sexualized activities are problematic.

Our expert advises a mother to discuss her dilemma with her ex and her daughter in the presence of a skilled, family-oriented therapist.

Encouraging kids of this age to pair off and to act like boyfriend and girlfriend is not advisable.

There are many developmental, emotional, and social reasons why an 11-year-old should not be dating.

Decide if a teen's behavior is a cause for concern and be sure to keep her well supervised.

Find out when a girl needs to have her first pelvic exam.

Find guidelines on when to allow a child to start dating.

Read how to handle a child who may be involved in potentially harmful behavior.

What should you do when your sixth-grader becomes interested in dating and kissing?

Get the lowdown on how to treat acne effectively.

Acne is caused by the increased production of an oily substance in the glands of the skin -- not by dirt or by eating fatty foods.