When discussing your family values concerning teen sex and pregnancy, be clear about your attitudes and thoughts. Ask your teen how he/she feels. Bring up society’s issues of pro-life and pro-choice. Discuss how you feel about each issue, but try not to debate it. Remember that teens are developing their values and need to be able to think things through. You can help him/her by using modeling behavior.
It is hard for a teenager to imagine the difficult road of becoming a teen parent. The reality of having a child is not something that is easily taught or shown. Parents can make the most impact on their teens by using the hopes and dreams of their teenager to counteract the difficulties that would arise should the teen have a child. Use examples of teen pregnancy in their school or in the media to start talking about which hardships would most influence your teen. Use your active listening skills. It is also in the interest of parents to support school programs like Baby, Think It Over.
Talking to your teen about teen pregnancy means talking about tomorrow, your child’s real future. You’ll want to keep communication open, honest and happening often. You’ll want to mention that you will always be there for your teenager, even if he/she makes a mistake. When having this talk with your teen, always end it by reaffirming your love and support for him/her. Tell your teen you believe he/she is capable of making good choices and you will always answer whatever questions he/she has.
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