Transgender youth are children or adolescents who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth. Because transgender youth usually depend on their parents for care, shelter, financial support, and other needs, they face different challenges than transgender adults. According to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, the American Psychological Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, appropriate care for transgender youth may include supportive mental health care, social transition, and/or puberty blockers, which delay puberty and the development of secondary sex characteristics to allow children more time to explore their gender identity.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children have a stable sense of their gender identity by age four, and research substantiates that children who are prepubertal and assert a transgender or gender-diverse identity know their gender as clearly and consistently as their developmentally equivalent peers who identify as cisgender and benefit from the same level of social acceptance. A 2022 review found that most pre-pubertal children who socially transition persist in their identity in 5- to 7-year follow-ups. Gender dysphoria is likely to be permanent if it persists during puberty.

Transgender youth may experience family exclusion and discrimination. Some transgender youth choose to remain closeted until they determine it is safe and appropriate to disclose their gender identity to family members and friends. In the LGBTQ community, "coming out" refers to the process of acknowledging and publicly sharing one's sexual identity or gender identity.

Family acceptance, or lack thereof, significantly impacts the lives of transgender youth. Predicting a parent's reaction to their child's gender identity can be difficult, and the coming-out process may be challenging for many transgender youths. In some cases, parents may react negatively, which can include disowning the child or forcing them to leave the home. Research suggests that transgender youth involved in the juvenile justice system are more likely to have experienced family rejection, abuse, and abandonment compared to cisgender youth. Because transgender youth depend on their parents for support and acceptance, family exclusion can contribute to emotional vulnerability for transgender youth, and some may regret coming out as a result.

Parents can seek gender-affirmative counselors and doctors and connect their children with LGBTQ support groups. Some parents join organizations such as Mermaids in the United Kingdom and PFLAG in the US to meet other parents and learn how to advocate for their children. Parental reactions to transgender children may change over time, with some parents who initially respond with negativity later offering support.^{[citation needed]}

Research has consistently shown that familial support and acceptance of transgender youth contribute to more positive outcomes in mental, physical, and emotional health.

Studies have identified various ways in which parents or guardians can support transgender youth, including providing opportunities for open discussions about gender identity. Transgender youth experience greater emotional stability and success when parents take a supportive approach rather than a controlling or dismissive stance. Addressing challenges during the transition process as they arise, rather than imposing views or dictating the process, has been associated with healthier transitions. Additionally, informing professionals and other key individuals in the child's life helps build a support network for transgender youth.

Access to information is an important factor in aiding and advocating for transgender youth. Information allows parents to connect their children with resources related to gender identity, such as medical care, counseling, educational materials, and local youth groups that provide community support.