Is it possible to prevent teen pregnancy? While I like to think that as a parent you are going to be a powerful influence over your child, the reality is that there are no guarantees. Even the best parents see their teens make decisions that are heartbreaking.
I can’t help but think of Sarah Palin. I truly believe that family did everything in their power to teach their children the right behavior, however, in the end they could not completely control the decisions that daughter Bristol would make.
There is simply no guarantee that your teen won’t engage in sex. There is also no guarantee that you can prevent your teen from becoming pregnant or if you have a son, getting a teen girl pregnant. Does that mean you just throw your hands up in the air and hope for the best? Certainly not.
There are things you can do as a parent that may help to prevent teen pregnancy. First of all, make sure you know what your teen is doing. Monitoring where you’re teen is, who they are with and what they are doing is important.
If your teen is going to be at someone’s house, make sure there is going to be supervision. Don’t just take your teen’s word. Call and talk directly to the parents.
You should also know who your teen’s friends are. If your teenager has a boyfriend or girlfriend, get to know them. Get to know their families, as well. This can provide a lot of insight.
However at the same time, it is probably best to discourage one-on-one dating. Encourage your teen to spend time with groups of others teens, rather than being alone with another.
The appropriate age to start dating is up to your family, however, as I always tell my teens…the longer you can wait, the easier your life will be. You avoid a lot of heartache and troubles if you can wait until you are older.
One of the things I have noticed in many situations with teenage pregnancy is that the girls tend to date older guys. Be sure to know how old your teen’s boyfriend is and discourage them from dating older guys.
Talk to your teen frequently about their future. Talk about college, what they want to do for a career. Provide them opportunities that help prepare them for their future (and keep them busy) so they are less inclined to think about relationships. Even involvement in sports or other activities can help.
Because my 16-year-old son is involved in Civil Air Patrol and focused on aviation, he has his mind set on flying and making that his career. If I can help keep him focused on that, it will keep his mind off relationships.
Finally, keep the communication lines between you and your teen open and honest. Your teen knows when you are being real. Be willing to have difficult and frank discussions with your teen. Share some of the mistakes you have made. If your teen feels safe and comfortable talking with you, you are more likely to help prevent a teen pregnancy.
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