Do you think teenage pregnancy is gettiong out of hand, at my high school over 40% of the girls are moms. And 30% are considering the idea. How do we help these teenagers who need to know having babies is not fun and low cost?
2007-03-09 03:08:50 · 8 answers · asked by sf 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
Take away the pain meds? lol ... My sister in law is a month older than me and she was in the labor and delivery room when I was going through labor with my daughter... and she told me right then and there that she would have stayed a virgin forever if she would have seen that when she was younger. I dunno if it would work on all teens... but hey it's worth a shot!
2007-03-09 03:13:42 · answer #1 · answered by Gyrlie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You also have to look at it from a perspective of those who want to be full time homemakers, and have the support system in place to do so. I had my first when I was 17 (teenager) still gave her up for adoption even though after having her and marrying I knew I wanted another child because I had decided I wanted to be a full time mother. Yes there are those that are doing it for the psychological reasons, but there are also those of us who want to have a lot of kids, and are actually ready, and have the support system(significant other/family support, money, and the correct mindset and know that it's a lifetime job, and can be hard and fun in the same respect.) But then again I'm also a military wife, and have been told that I'm crazy for having a military man for a husband. But I say to each their own.
One way is to stick them with a household that has a baby, and make them be the one who has to do the motherly/fatherly duties. I believe they also have the animatronic children that cry all night, have to be "fed" and "changed". Let them live with that for a week and see if they want the crying, diapers, feedings, not being able to go out and party all the time. My school had that, but I did wonderful, and still wanted to have a child. A bit earlier than I wanted, but I also did the right thing for her and the couple that couldn't conceive one of their own, and I can say that I am very proud to be who I am.
2007-03-09 03:28:33 · answer #2 · answered by Victoria B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Statistically, teen pregnancy is lower than it has been in the past. In fact, the year with the highest teen pregnancy rates was actually 1957! Talk about the good 'ole days, huh?
As to how you help teenagers, the most effective tool is to get them interested in something else that fills their time. Sports (best for girls), hobbies, social work, advocacy work, etc. The problem is that most people consider teenagers (and younger children) to be inexperienced and therefore unable to do anything but the most mundane tasks. When I was 17, I helped with a political campaign and it took a long time for them to come around to the idea of giving me more responsibility other than licking envelopes. However when they did give me some more responsibility, it kept me more than busy, engaged, and interested in what was going on. I didn't have time to have sex and so I didn't.
You have to reach them with what they are interested in and sadly, very few programs exist to do this. After school programs have been cut in the recent past and the districts that cut the programs DID have an increase in the number of young women pregnant within their halls. This is not a coincidence. I do think that each community should do what it can to create teen centers or other safe spaces where these young people can go and be engaged in activities that interest them.
The only other way to disabuse them of the notion that motherhood is easy and cheap is to have them take over the primary care of an infant for a day or more and see how much they like it and how easy it is for them.
Above that, comprehensive sex education that teaches both abstinence and contraception and increasing access to effective contraception for everyone is a proven method of reducing teen (and unintended) pregnancy rates. Is it a cure all? No, because you cannot force someone to take their pill everyday the way they are supposed to. But it does help reduce rates if young people who do choose to be sexually active aren't barred from the methods of preventing pregnancy and disease. In my state, Texas, everything is done to keep young people away from contraception and this has an effect on our staggering teen pregnancy rates. When parental consent went into effect for birth control, the teen pregnancy rates raised and haven't dropped since. The introduction of abstinence-only-until-marriage that ignores or misinforms students of contraception raised the rates higher and has done nothing to lower them or reverse them.
2007-03-09 03:34:02 · answer #3 · answered by jenn_smithson 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, it is out of control. babies having babies is not a good idea. education is the only way to teach teens that it isn't fun and is expensive.
i can tell you from experience, it's hard enough when you are married and working to have children. it would be a lot tougher with no education or job.
teens need to consider that they will constantly struggle if they have children so young. formula, diapers, wipes, clothes, daycare, toys etc.
people can say don't have sex all they want but it isn't always realistic.
perhaps taking home a "baby" (sac of flour, egg etc) and documenting the care and cost of the "baby" would help. couldn't go to a party because you couldn't find someone to watch the baby, get up every two hours to feed the baby (set the alarm), etc. if this was done for a week it would probably change teens minds. (also consider that most guys won't be around to help...notice i said most not all)
a baby is not a toy and not a means to get love. you need to love yourself first or you will be no good to anyone. i think that is why a lot of teens want babies.
hopefully i helped some...
2007-03-09 03:19:46 · answer #4 · answered by cheshiregirl0472 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I bet you are from Florida *ha ha* no seriously the problem down here is the teach abstenance instead of teaching kids to use a condom and then kids get pregnant and then others get jelous. Of what I am unsure b/c even ate age (28) which I am now it's hard raising kids and expensive. It's best to wait. In VT where I grew up they taught us about abstenance and then if we were going to have sex this is what WILL happen. It was very clear of the consequences. (I think 1 women out of a class of approx. 300 girls) might have been pregnant but she kept it VERy quiet.
2007-03-09 03:20:49 · answer #5 · answered by fuzzyfontaine 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately this day in age parents arent doing their job of informing their child of the dangers or consequences of having sex. But most of all alot of girls want to have a baby because they want someone to love them for who they are. If parents would instill morals and show the them the love that they have for their child or teenager, I believe girls wouldn't go seeking out the love, they are missing, in someone else. You personally cant change their minds by just telling them its too hard to care for a baby it will make them want one more because they will want to prove you wrong.
2007-03-09 03:17:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always thought that women nowadays know how to protect themselves (actually it shouldn't be only their responsability but to be on the safe side...) but actually things haven't changed! Girls, you should know about Condom's, The Pill and s.f. - pls use it!
2007-03-09 03:22:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
WHERE DO YOU LIVE!!!??? My God, what is going on there. Are there no adults or counselors around that can convince these girls it may be a good idea to wait to have kids? Graduate, go to college, travel, bum around, live a little. Then have kids
2007-03-09 03:15:39 · answer #8 · answered by biscuitperifrank 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋