Having important conversations with your children can be tough – you might not know where to start, what to say, or feel like you have all the answers. We spoke with father and son content creators Lito and Taye who share their thoughts on how you can push past those feelings and start having better conversations with your children.
Lito’s perspective
There’s no manual for parenting. No one hands you a guide and tells you how to get it right. You learn in real time. You make mistakes. You adjust. If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a father, it’s this: conversation is everything. Not perfect conversations, not rehearsed ones, but real ones.
The truth is, most families talk but they don’t always communicate. And in today’s world, that gap is getting bigger. Talking matters more than ever because we live in a time where young people are exposed to everything, including social media, opinions from everywhere and pressure to be something they’re not. What’s missing is simple: a space to talk properly.
Not a space to be judged. Not a space to be shut down. Not a space to be told “you’ll understand when you’re older.” Just…a space to be heard. And if that space doesn’t exist at home, they’ll find it somewhere else. Sometimes that works out. Sometimes it doesn’t.
There is no perfect time
Most parents don’t avoid conversations because they don’t care. They avoid them because they don’t know how to start, they don’t want to say the wrong thing, they’re worried it will get awkward, or they think “it’s not the right time”.
But here’s the truth: there is no perfect time. And silence doesn’t protect your child. It just means someone else will teach them instead.
Don’t overthink it
You don’t need a big sit-down talk. Start small. Start natural. Start where you already are: in the car, at dinner, watching something together. Ask the simple questions:
“What do you think about that?”
“Do people your age deal with that?”
“Be honest…what would you do?”
You’re not trying to lecture. You’re trying to open a door. Rushing to correct is where most conversations break. A child says something and the parent jumps straight in and just like that, the door closes. Instead: listen, even if you don’t agree. Because when a young person feels heard, they’re more open to hearing you.
Be present in the conversation
If you’re waiting for school or the internet to teach your child about relationships, respect, boundaries, consent or pressure…then you’re leaving it to chance. You don’t need to have all the answers. But you do need to be present in the conversation. Even if it feels uncomfortable. Especially if it feels uncomfortable.
Young people can feel when something isn’t genuine. So don’t try to be perfect. Be honest. If you got things wrong growing up…say that. If you learned lessons the hard way…share that. Because that’s what connects. Not perfection: realness.
Everything I’ve spoken about here comes from real life. The conversations I’ve had with my son. The mistakes I’ve made. The lessons I’ve had to learn the hard way. Nothing is scripted. Nothing is perfect. Just real moments and real conversations.
Taye’s Perspective
From my side, I’ll be real…a lot of young people don’t speak because they don’t feel like they can. Sometimes it feels like you’re going to get judged, you’re going to get told off, or you won’t be understood. So, it’s easier to just keep things to yourself or talk to your friends.
But the truth is, we’re figuring things out as well. We don’t always know what we’re doing. We just don’t always say that out loud. Conversations matter because they make things clearer, they take pressure off, and they help you understand things before you experience them. And sometimes, you don’t even realise you needed the conversation until you’ve had it.
You don’t have to have everything figured out
To my fellow young people, if you’re reading this, you don’t have to have everything figured out. But don’t keep everything in. Talk to someone. A parent. A friend. Someone you trust. Because trying to figure everything out on your own…is where things can go wrong.
This isn’t about being the perfect parent. Or the perfect child. It’s about building something simple - a space where conversation exists.
Because that’s where trust is built, understanding grows, and real connection happens.
Support and tips for being the best dad you can be
Strong conversations start with strong connections. Find more practical advice on ways to bond with your child and build a positive relationship that will help them feel heard and supported.
Call It What It Is
Misogyny isn’t new, but the way children and young people encounter it is. It’s not ‘just locker room talk’ and it’s not banter – these are quietly normalised, harmful attitudes and behaviours that no child should ever learn to accept.
We need to name what the problems are to find real solutions that work.
Looking for more advice on how to talk to your child?
Find more tips on how you can engage more actively in conversations with your child, to encourage them to open up about their feelings, safety and wellbeing.