No, actually, everyone is NOT doing it

When it comes to sex, many teens feel pressured because they think everyone's doing it. This is actually not the case. Statistics show that less than half of teens in high school have had sex (43% of boys and 42% of girls). 
(source: National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy)

Yes, it is true that sexual activity among teens, teen pregnancy and incidence of STI's and STD's has risen in recent years, but that doesn't mean that all young people are choosing to be sexually active. 

In fact, "there is a growing body of research that confirms that abstinence-centered education decreases sexual initiation, increases abstinent behavior among sexually experienced teens, and/or decreases the number of partners among sexually experienced teens".
(source: National Abstinence Education Association, Feb. 2010)

Parents often fear that the abstinence option sets teens up for failure in the area of sex. But the reality is you are not setting up your teen for failure.  Sexual abstinence is much more broad of a topic than just pregnancy or STD prevention. It's been said, "you can't put a condom on someone's heart." 

Abstinence education realizes that “having sex” can potentially affect not only the physical aspect of a teen's life but also, as research shows, can have emotional, psychological, social, economic, and educational consequences as well.  (source)

The Facts

• It is NOT unrealistic to think that teens can exert self-control.

• Not ALL teens are sexually active.

• Teens deserve more credit for their potential to make healthy choices

• Abstinence is the ONLY 100% protection against STD's and pregnancy.

• Parents influence teens and can empower teens to say NO.

• "Among teens that have had sex, 55% of boys and 72% of girls wish they had waited."  (source)

Where Does Indiana Rank When it Comes to Teen Pregnancy?

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Teen Pregnancy Prevention= Economic Development

Have you ever thought about the impact Teen Pregnancy has on your community?
No matter how well you believe your community is doing economically, more economic growth is always needed to provide more jobs, improve schools, repair roads, and so on. Through whatever means you get your news, the messages all seem the same -- “attract more businesses,” “create ‘shovel-ready’ jobs,” “cut spending,” and here’s my favorite, “RAISE TAXES.” With all of the talking heads giving government leaders advice on how to improve the economy, you never hear suggestions for preventing economic decline in the first place.

When I have a cold, I try to stay warm, eat better, and get plenty of sleep. Otherwise my cold could turn into pneumonia. The few dollars that I spend turning up the heat in my house and buying chicken soup is nothing compared to the medical bill that I would receive after being treated for pneumonia. The same is quite true for treating the symptoms of a community’s economic decline.  Prevention is far less expensive than treating the symptoms.

Unemployment places a tremendous financial burden on our state and its taxpayers. The longer that a man or woman is jobless, the more difficult it becomes for them to find a job, and the more likely it is that they will receive or continue to receive welfare benefits. The economic development of any community improves as more people find jobs, buy homes, cars, insurance, groceries, and more.

Programs like: A Positive Approach to Teen Health (PATH) help teens make healthy choices, thereby preventing many of the unhealthy choices that lead to teen pregnancy, substance abuse, violence, and yes … joblessness.

Consider these:

PATH is a nonprofit organization that is helping teens to set positive goals, abstain from sex before marriage preventing teen pregnancies, and to avoid substance abuse, relationship violence, and bullying.

PREVENTION is what PATH is all about.

Check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/aPositiveApproachToTeenHealth?ref=hl

Porn can be harmful to your teen's present AND future

                                                                                                image source

This graphic describes 10 different ways that porn can harm marriages and sex lives.  (The full explanation can be found here). 

Why would we discuss marriage on a blog that is meant for teen issues?! 

Because most likely in the future, your teen may choose to get married or choose to be devoted to someone in a committed relationship.  Many of the decisions they are making today can effect that marriage/relationship down the road.

It is not a secret that porn is rampant in society. It is ever increasing among young people.  In addition, the age at which kids are first viewing pornographic images is getting younger and younger.  In another one of our blog posts, we revealed various statistics that may surprise parents.  A few of these statistics were as follows:

• the average age of first Internet exposure to pornography is 11
• 90% of 8-16 year olds having viewed porn online (most while doing homework)
• 80% of 15-17 year olds having multiple hard-core exposures (source)

(Read the entire blog post here. )

Another study reveals:

"Pornography websites were accessed by at least 44,000 primary school children in one month, online research showed Friday, amid calls for greater restrictions on providers."

"The Authority for Television on Demand (Atvod) tracked the actions of children in Britain in December 2013 and found that one in 35 of six- to 11-year-olds online clicked onto an adult website."

"Some 200,000 aged under 16 -- one in 16 who went online -- also accessed an adult website in the same month, while one in five teenage boys under 18 were clicking on porn, the online video regulator said."

"One adult site, which allows users unrestricted access to thousands of hardcore porn videos free of charge, attracted 112,00 teenagers." source

The numbers and statistics tell it all. This is a growing problem, worldwide.

It is imperative that parents understand the severity of the issues and addictions that pornography can bring into their child/teen's lives.  

• Know how to protect your child/teen from accessing pornographic sites and images!  
• Keep lines of communication open! 
• Don't judge! 
• If there seems to be an addiction, they may need help!