Info for Parents | in the know

 

Get in the Know...

  • How well do you really know your child?
  • Their interests, their hurts, disappointments, secret crush, emotional struggles, self-image is it positive or negative?
  • Do you even know them at all?

 


Here are a few challenging questions:

  • Do you always know where your child is?
  • What is your child involved in?
  • Who are your child’s friends, are they positive friendships, or do they have a negative influence?
  • When is the last time you viewed their myspace or facebook page?

If you are unsure about any of these questions, maybe it’s time to get "in the know!"
 

 

Must Know Facts and Stats...

  • A study was done from four Treasure Coast counties within that study a staggering 90% percent of teens said that they do not openly communicate with their parents. (Westbury, Anthony. Anthony Westbury: Survey says: Parents not connecting with teens. July 3, 2008) click here to see the study.

Also in that same study they found that 80% of the participants, aged 14 to 18, say they wish their parents would listen to the whole story, they want calm conversation. They want to be allowed to make mistakes and then have an open conversation with an open parent. Though this is in one county the results could be compared to any place. 50- 60% do not discuss sex with their parents and most parents believe the responsibility should be shared between school and home. (Fogarty, Kate and Wyatt, Carolyn H. Communicating with Teens about Sex: Facts, Findings, and Suggestions / click here to view the web page. ). The most serious injustice is the lack of knowledge and unfortunately, in many cases, it is not that you don’t want to inform your child, you just honestly don’t know what they are truly up against. Sometimes you feel you’re child is more knowledgeable about the subject than they actually are. Therefore the first step in educating your child is educating yourself.
 

 


Here are a few stats and factual materials that should strike some interest...

  • Contraception interrupts ovulation, prevents fertilization, prevents implantation, and only reduces the risks of pregnancy it doesn’t eliminate the risk
  • STI’s can be spread through skin-to-skin contact
  • STI’s can be spread even if condoms are being used
  • STI’s are damaging enough to end in female infertility
  • Teen pregnancy is more likely with some forms of contraception
  • Teen pregnancy is more likely in teenagers who are already parents
  • STI’s can cause cancer and infertility
  • Sexual behavior is defined as actions such as touching, kissing, and other stimulating activities, related to the expression of sexuality
  • Teens who are sexually active earlier are more at risk for STDs, pregnancy, single parenthood and depression
  • 47 percent of high school students have had vaginal sex (Eaton DK MMWR Surveill Summ. 55(SS-5):1-1082
  • 34 percent of high school students had sex by the ninth grade (Eaton DK MMWR Surveill Summ. 55(SS-5):1-1082
  • 50 percent of high school students have at least tried oral sex (Mosher WD. 2005 Adv Data. (362):1-55)
  • 11 percent of high school students have tried anal sex (Mosher WD. 2005 Adv Data. (362):1-55)
  • 13 percent of teens without one participatory parent have an excellent relationship with their father (Buddy T. About.com July 11, 2006. http://alcoholism.about.com/library/blcasa010223.htm?p=1)
  • 24 percent of teens without one participatory parent have a excellent relationship with their mother (Buddy T. About.com July 11, 2006. http://alcoholism.about.com/library/blcasa010223.htm?p=1)

 


Are you a "hands on" parent?

  • About 1 in 5 or 4.3 million teens live with a parent who is not an active participant in their lives. This puts the child in danger for drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, jail, etc. (Buddy T. About. Com July 11, 2006. CASA News Release. http://alcoholism.about.com/library/blcasa010223.htm?p=1)

 

Scenarios and Questions Adolescents Might Ask...

  • You and your teen just watched a movie that had a premarital sex scene.  The movie showed no consequences of the premarital affair such as pregnancy, STDs, etc.  How would you use this situation to talk to your teen about sex?
  • Your teen just read a newspaper article about a political official lying about his sexual relations with a woman.  What would you say to your teenager in this situation?
  • Your teen just came home from school and told you he/she heard that a popular athlete was arrested for sexual assault.  How would you use this situation to talk to your teen about forced sex?
  • Your teenager just heard on the radio or saw on TV that a popular rock star contracted HIV.  How would you use this situation to talk to your teen about sex?
  • Your teen tells you a girl at school is pregnant.  How can you use this situation to talk to him/her about the consequences of teenage pregnancy?
  • Your teenager asks you “how will I know when I’m ready to have sex?  Should I wait until marriage?”  What is your response?
  • Your teen asks if you had sex before marriage.  How would you turn this into a teachable moment?