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| How to Avoid Teen Pregnancy | 1. Be clear about your sexual attitudes and values. Remember, that it would be much easier to talk to your child, if you look through these questions and try to answer each of them:
- How do you treat school – aged teens sexual activity? What do you think about their becoming parents?
- Up to whom should it be to set up sexual limits in any relationship? How is it really done?
- Were you sexually active in teen years? What do you think about that now? How do the answers to these questions might influence what you are going to say to your children?
- What do you think about encouraging teenagers to abstain from sexual relations?
- What do you think about teenagers using methods of contraception?
2. Begin to talk with your children about sex and love early and do it often. Remember to be specific. The most important thing (and usually the only thing), you are able to do is to talk to your children. Remember, that it is necessary to be honest and open in such kinds of talks. It is not less important to listen carefully in order to see what your child knows and understands already. It would be better to try to make your conversations back and forth – two ways. And do not be afraid, as talking to a child about sex does not mean at all that he / she will become sexually active the next day. Keep in mind the following:
Children as much need to understand how relationships work and the meaning of sex, as they do to understand how all other parts of the body work.
It is important for every child to feel comfortable asking their parents question about anything that interests them. Parents should try their best to be the “askable” ones. They should let their children know that they can talk with them about whatever interests them.
3. Supervise and monitor your children’s activities. You should be aware of where your children are at all times. Try to make sure that they are safe; you should always know what they are doing. In case if your children are not with you, get to know whether there is any responsible adult supervising them? Of course you may see somewhat too snoopy, however, it is up to you to help your children understand that parents, who really care about their children, always know where their kids are.
4. Know your children’s friends and their families. You may have already seen that peers have strong influence on teenagers; this is why it is up to you to do your best to help your children choose friends from such families, in which there are values, similar to yours. It would be useful to welcome all your children’s friends into your home and try to talk to them as often as possible. You can also talk to their parents about some common rules, expectations and curfews.
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