Every parent of a child dreads the thoughts that their child may become a teenage parent.  While there are always some children who are determined to defy their parents at every opportunity they have, there are some things that parents can do to help reduce the risk of their child becoming a teenage mother or father.  While parents of girls tend to be more protective, the parents of the boys must also be concerned as a baby can change their son’s life dramatically as well.

Tip #1.  Extra-curricular activities are helpful.  If your child has, activities to help keep their time occupied when they are not at school or working a job, they are less likely to be sexually active.  It is a very well known fact that children who are involved in activities are less inclined to be in serious heavy relationships.  They are more interested in competing or learning a skill rather than being obsessed with the opposite sex.   Athletes especially who are highly competitive tend to focus on their sports heavily and nothing else.  This can cause some problems with grades in school if the child works with the wrong coach.  However, coaches are becoming more interested in a child’s academic progress with requiring some students maintain a certain grade point average to be allowed to participate. 

Tip #2.  Do not avoid the subject of sex with your child.  Children are largely curious about the unknown.  Why would you want your child to learn about sex from their friends?  They should instead be learning from books, medical review sites, and with conversations one on one with their parents.  Do not act like your child is a freak or strange person because they are asking questions.  Instead, answer their questions frankly, and openly. 

Tip #3.  Allow the children to clearly communicate with you.  If they have questions, you should answer them, do not force your children to find their answers somewhere else.  As you are communicating with your children, you should make it perfectly clear what your expectations are.  However, you do not want your child making their own decisions without at least hearing your opinion on issues. 

Tip #4.  Arm your children with the tools to protect themselves.  While you may not approve of your child being sexually active, most parents must accept the fact that it is happening.  Therefore the best way to combat teenage pregnancy is to make sure your child has easy access to birth control should they decide to be sexually active.  For girls this would mean birth control as well as condoms, for boys it would mean condoms.  Many parents are now considering the option of giving their daughters IDU’s or the birth control shots to help prevent them from pregnancy.  This option should never be used until you have discussed it with the doctor to ensure that it is not going to cause health problems. 

Tip #5.  Give your child plenty of time to be around small children, encourage babysitting and interaction.  This will give your child the opportunity to see that having a child is not all fun and games, there are serious consequences, and children require a lot of work in order to raise happy, healthy child that is well adjusted. 

Each child is different in the time in which they become interested in the opposite sex.   You as a parent must help discourage your child from making bad decisions, and arm them with the knowledge and tools they need to make smart, informed decisions without blindly causing themselves more problems.