It seems that the 14-year decline in babies born to teens is coming to an end. The teen birth rate jumped quite a bit in 2006. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows that Arizona’s teen birth rate remains above the National Average. It seems that higher birth rates were reported in 26 states across the country. Other States with high birth rates include New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi. The National average is up by 3.5%.
Why with all of the sex education, is teen pregnancy on the rise? My belief is that sex is such a casual affair, I’ve said it before, it is as casual as “Let’s go get a Latte”. Sex has become cool, and as long as it’s cool, teens are going to want to have it.
Sex is everywhere, commercials, to sell cars, the programs on TV, and in our schools. The programs on TV are getting more and more explicit including the programs about teens. Sex isn’t treated as sacred as it use to be. If we had sex in junior high or high school, we wouldn’t tell anyone because we would be labeled something that wasn’t so nice.
So what can we do as parents to help our teens understand the significance of having sex? The first thing I always say is; talk to your teen, do a pro’s and con’s list, together. Try not to react during this process, just listen and help add things to the list. Then look at the list and ask them what they think. Ask them what they think the repercussions of having sex is. The more you talk to your kids about everything, the clearer they become on the issues at hand.
I think asking your daughter if she had a teen daughter would she want her daughter to be participating in casual sex? I would have to say, her answer would be NO. We have to help our teens understand that sex isn’t casual, no matter what the media says.
