The Fault of Parents in Teen Pregnancy

Anti-teenage pregnancy III
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Being a sexually active teen is no longer anything to be surprised by. Sadly, being a sexually active teen is the norm in the world these days. Kids are having sex and being sexually active at a younger age and their exposure to sex topics are a big part of the reason. But there might be an even bigger reason why kids are having sex and getting pregnant these days. Too few parents are discussing family planning with their children. Part of this discussion involves sex, but parents need to talk about finding good Phoenix apartments since the new baby will need a home, paying the rent for Phoenix apartments, or paying for basic needs.

It might have to do with the involvement of the parents. These days, there more distance between parents and children, and this creates a communication barrier that makes education about these problems increasingly difficult.

Parents these days have a very tough job. There are many woman who are single mothers and there are many fathers who must work long hours to support for their families. This makes staying on top of what is going on in their kids life increasingly difficult. It’s also more difficult when kids are secretive about what is going on in their own life.

But this behavior doesn’t mean that it absolves parents from having to do their job when it comes to talking to their kids about sex. The truth is that parents must make it a priority to communicate all their feelings and concerns to their kids, even if their kids aren’t forthcoming with their own thoughts, fears, and concerns. When searching for Phoenix apartments, a renter wouldn’t refuse to ask a question because the seller isn’t offering up the information. It’s the whole reason to ask a question at all.

Parents must create an open dialogue with their children. If they cannot create the dialogue they need to, at least, let them know that it is wanted. Communicating with a child could prevent them from becoming sexually active before they are fully ready for it.

Filed Under: Advice, General, Parenthood Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Importance of Teen Abstinence

Craig pressures Lucy to have sexual intercours...
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The meaning of teen abstinence consists of not taking part in sex play beyond light kissing or hugging, or in sexual intercourse. This means they are not to touch the genitals of another person or any part of the other person’s body. With abstinence, a teen does not give up their sexuality, but it is actually a responsible and healthy way of handling it. In cases where a teen has already engaged in sexual activity, they still can make the choice to practice abstinence.

With abstinence, the teen has a guarantee that they will avoid pregnancy; abstinence also has health, emotional and social benefits.

Today, more than 50% of teens are choosing abstinence as a way of life. More the 73% believe that being abstinent is not embarrassing, and 58% said they believe they should no be engaging in sexual intercourse. Most of the teens that have engaged in sexual activity have stated that they wish they had waited. The following are some reasons that teens have chosen abstinence.

  • They wait until they feel they are ready to deal with the physical and emotional parts of a sexual relationship.
  • They want to avoid STDs.
  • They want to wait until they find the right person.
  • They do not want to become parents.
  • They would rather pursue other interests such as academics and sports.
  • Their parents encourage abstinence and they have good communication with them.

Many teens are aware that abstinence may be challenging, but well worth it. Some teens are even finding that it is possible to engage in non-sexual parts of romance with an individual such as going on dates, sharing interests, and talking. Many of these teens oftentimes stay clear of other bad habits such as alcohol because they realize the harmful effects of it and that they may need places like Rehab-International.org for help in the end.

Filed Under: Advice, Pregnancy, Sexual Health Tagged With: , , ,

Educating Your Teen About Sex

Educating teens on the subject of sex is probably very awkward to say the least, but also one of the best things that a parent can do to help their teen through a very difficult time in their growth and development.

Many teens have bad information when it comes to sex. Talking to a teen about their knowledge of sex can sometimes be enlightening when they share with you their ideas on the subject. What’s even more surprising is how and where they got the information, which is sometimes from other teens who have gotten bad information.

The best way to address the issue of sex with teenagers is to be as completely honest and open as possible. Don’t go too fast with them as to overhwhelm them, but make the conversation very relaxed and low-key so that they feel comfortable discussing even the most embarrasing subjects with you.

Talk with them frequently and ‘off-the-cuff’ to see where their heads are. It’s important to know what they’re thinking since having bad information or incorrect information can lead them to make bad choices.

Although is best to take the journey slow and careful, it’s also good to be direct and honest with them about all aspects of sex. It won’t benefit them in any way to get a watered-down version of sex issues and subjects, but if they completely understand things, they have a better chance of approaching situations with full solid, good knowledge and education about the way situations work.

If you routinely ask your teen questions and leave the door open for them to be inquisitive, you are helping your child in a tremendous way by showing them the importance of having good information. As you are candid in your answers, they will learn too to be candid in their approach, and the mystery of sex will be lifted making it seem less awkward for the teen and the parent.

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Filed Under: Sexual Life, Sexual Problem Tagged With: , ,

Online Information Resources for Teenagers

In years past, when a teenager challenged her parents about some information on a subject, such as teenage sexuality or teenage pregnancy, it was hard for parents to instantly provide a solid argument.  Unless they had anticipated the challenge and had gone through every available book on the subject, they couldn’t rightly say, “Here, read it for yourself.” This is no longer true, thanks to the Internet; however, parents still have to be careful of the sources they use. That’s why it is so important to use information that is from legitimate, well-known sources.

Search engine sites such as Canada 411 can help you find information resources, both online and “hard copy.” You can use these resources to help you find the information you need.

When researching information, you may come across a source that takes a stand on a subject that is different stand from your own. However, if the information you were looking for is there, and is presented in a fairly unbiased, neutral light, you may want to go ahead and use the source anyway. You can always save the discussion of your exact opinion for another time.

Unfortunately, as they get older, teenagers just don’t respond to the old, “Because I said so, that’s why” rejoinder that parents fell back on for generations. They’re too smart, plus they know where to go to find the information. If you will just be patient and use all the information resources that are available, both online and elsewhere, you should be able to compile enough information to prove your point to your teenager.

If they continue to argue after that, they may simple be “pushing your buttons.” It may be wise to then table the discussion until another time. Remember, however, that it is still your house, and you can expect them to abide by your rules for the present.

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Filed Under: Advice, Contraception Tagged With: , ,

The Onset of Puberty

Development of androgenic hair (body hair) on ...
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Ask any teenager and they will tell you that the most difficult time in their life is the beginning of their teenage years, also known as puberty. Also, ask the parent of any teenager the same question, and you’ll likely get the same answer. Puberty is a very emotionally-draining and physically-taxing time on both the teenager and the parent’s than most anything else.

Faced with puberty, many teens have questions, concerns and want to know more about their bodies and what’s going on. What they might NOT do is ask these questions out loud to an adult (specifically their parents), a counselor or any other adult. What they’re more likely to do is discuss it with their friends or muddle through it all alone. This may be a time where they will recieve bad or incorrect information, leading them to be ill-informed and make bad choices. It can be a very lonely, scary and upsetting time for many kids.

Adults who are around teens experiencing puberty can help them out tremendously by offering their own words of motivation, sharing their own experiences and giving them a listening ear to talk to and to vent to. This is important for them because the onset of puberty can be different for each teen at different stages of their development.

After the teen has reached a comfortable point in their maturtiy and development where they feel that they can safely discuss their feelings with an adult, they will find that things will become easier for them to manage. The stress level somewhat diminishes, the emotional outbursts may decrease and they may begin to feel more at ease with their bodies and themselves. Their confidence level may also begin to take a turn, showing good signs of a well-adjusted, stable and emotionally-developing teenager on the path towards adult development.

Filed Under: Sexual Health, Sexual Life, Sexual Problem Tagged With: , , ,

Resources for Teens

Many teenagers have a lot of questions about sex, but don’t know who to turn to for honest and unbiased answers. If they don’t feel comfortable talking to their parents or other family members, or feel awkward discussing the matters with a health teacher or counselor, they may end up engaging in behaviors without understanding what may result. Planned Parenthood is a great resource for teenagers in this situation. They have information about hundreds of health topics available on the website, as well as counselors and staff members within the clinics who are trained in answering questions on any health-related topic. The website is a great place to turn first because it lists topics alphabetically in great detail, as well as commonly asked questions and answers. It is a very non-threatening way for teens to get more information, since it is completely private and doesn’t even require an account to access the resources. Most of the information presented is also done in a way that is easier for teens to understand and relate to, so they don’t feel like they are talking to a stuffy older person who doesn’t understand their situation.

For a more one-on-one experience, or for questions that are not answered on the Planned Parenthood website, teens can visit a clinic where someone on staff can discuss more personal matters privately and confidentially. Most clinics do not require parental consent, where state law allows, for counseling and contraception, so teens do not have to worry about bringing a parent or getting a lecture. While the clinic policy does encourage honesty between parents and teens, their confidentiality policy protects the information discussed and will not allow anything to be released without the consent of the patient. Planned Parenthood is a great resource for teens to get straightforward answers to difficult questions in a very comfortable and open-minded setting.

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Filed Under: Contraception, Parenthood, Prenatal Care Tagged With: , ,