#1294 - [Parental Guidance Ep. 2] Nudes, Consent & Values: Talking to Kids About Sexting and Respect

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

t’s the conversation most parents hope they never have — but need to. Sexting, short shorts, and the values we bring into how we talk to our kids about consent, respect, and peer pressure. In this episode, Justin & Kylie Coulson unpack the big issues raised on this week’s Parental Guidance, and how you can guide your kids through a digital world where nothing sent is ever truly private.

KEY POINTS

• Sexting is prevalent and often normalised among teens — but there is no such thing as “safe sexting.”
• Conversations about consent, respect, and peer pressure are vital and should happen early.
• Girls are under more pressure to share explicit images and often face more shame when they do.
• Parents’ personal values (e.g., about clothing choices) are valid but must not drift into victim-blaming.
• Teaching kids respect means emphasising that what someone wears or does never justifies harassment or assault.
• Encourage kids to consider context and to be mindful of how they live out their own values while respecting others’.

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

"Once you send an image, you lose control of what happens to that image — full stop, end of story."

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• happyfamilies.com.au — Resources and articles on consent, sexting, and raising respectful kids.
• Justin’s book Miss-Connection: Why Your Teenage Daughter ‘Hates’ You, Expects the World, and Needs to Talk (for more on teen girls and digital challenges).
• Upcoming book on raising boys - join the waitlist.

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS

1. Start open, nonjudgmental conversations about sexting, consent, and peer pressure — don’t wait until it’s too late.
2. Make it clear: no one “deserves” mistreatment based on what they wear or share.
3. Teach kids to think critically about requests for photos and to value their privacy.
4. Emphasise that respect and consent are non-negotiable — and model these values yourself.
5. Remind kids: even trusted friends can break trust, and once something’s sent, it’s out of their control.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.