Tom Tozer and Bill BlackAccording to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. continues to have teen birth rates that are significantly higher than other industrialized nations.
Despite some decrease in such births over the last few years because of thee use of contraception and abstinence, many young people in the U.S. continue to engage in unprotected sexual activity.
Nearly 80 percent of pregnancies in adolescents are unintended and result from contraceptive failure, misuse or non-use. Additionally, the rate of sexual assault among teenagers and young adults is higher than in any other group, another factor increasing the risk of unintended pregnancy.
Besides pregnancies, this approach to physical intimacy puts teens at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections and becoming parents before they are mature adults.
So often we are faced with the choice of involving ourselves in our teen’s life or backing away. In some cases, we should hold off. But playing with sexual intimacy has such far-ranging consequences that parental oversight seems imperative. We’ve said it before – there’s nothing wrong with being a bit nosy. While, in some cases, teens are fine on their own, sexual intimacy and the possible consequences require some nosiness. Talk to your kids and share the facts with them.