Does it make a difference?

Good News for Parents!

According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 45 percent of teens (age 12-19) say that parents influence their decisions about sex more than anyone else. In their most recent national survey, young teens (age 12-14), report that parental influence is even greater at 53 percent. A significant majority of young people (88 percent) say it would be much easier for teens to postpone sexual activity and avoid teen pregnancy if they were able to have more open, honest conversations about these topics with their parents. Two-thirds of sexually active teens wish they had waited and more than half of all teens say that teens should not have sex.

A recent study, the 2005 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, released by the Federal Government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports overwhelming results. A decline in the percentage of high school students reporting ever having sexual intercourse has occurred during the past 15 years. In 2005, 47 percent of students surveyed said they had ever had sexual intercourse, down from 54 percent in 1991.

It’s time to speak up! Parents continue to underestimate their power to influence teen behaviors. Take an active role in supporting your teen’s decision to empower themselves by choosing abstinence.

Be WISE, Tips for Talking:

Welcome: Be available; treat each other with respect and trust.

Interest: Ask your teen questions about their opinions, friends, school, or movies, but let your teen tell his or her story.

Support Good Goals: Ask what your teen’s goals are, both for the long range and for the short term, and share your support.

Encourage, Educate, and Empower: Give your teen the guidance, information, and skills to be successful.

Source: Parents Speak Up! U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information about discussing abstinence, sex and relationships, go to www.4parents.gov.