Is there a “nice” way to tell them they smell bad?
Rachel Concannon, adolescent therapist: “Just come out and say it! It’s normal for kids to develop body odor as they go through puberty, and nobody wants to be the smelly kid. Tell them that it’s important to shower regularly, and the emphasis is on being clean and healthy. You can couch your advice in a medical way: this is what’s happening with your body (hormones are creating more oil, which makes bacteria grow, which causes a smell). You can also couch it in a social way: you don’t want your smell to be distracting to other people!”