There are some surely well meaning people, who think that teen abstinence is a concept that this raging hormone group will adopt, just because it's what they're told to do. If they won't clean their room, what makes you think they're going to accept the teen abstinence directive? It's like asking a bird not to fly, a dog not to bark or the wind to cease. If you think this will work, then you are the one with your head in the sand. Ostriches don't fly, BTW. So, what works?
Educating teens is the answer. Remember, this is the age group that disputes the necessity of almost everything that's good for them! However, this doesn't mean that a few salient facts won't get through. Guilt may be induced through moral avenues of argument, but there are some hard-hitting facts and reasons that will give them pause, when nothing else does.
Moral and religious arguments may carry some weight while you're talking, but in the heat of the moment, kids are not thinking of that chat. This is where the concept of teen abstinence is about the furthest idea from their mind. It's not that kids don't want to go along with the idea, they simply don't have the discipline, experience or inclination.
A more practical approach yields a better measure of success. For example, some parents are reluctant to talk to their teens about sexual matters. They don't know how to bring up the subject naturally. There are websites which give parents ideas on how to talk to kids about sex. Take a look at some of these and find an approach which is comfortable for you and your child.
A fact-finding perspective can be most valuable. You may cringe at the thought of talking about STDs, AIDS and teenage pregnancy. This is an outdated attitude. However unfortunate, kids know all about the sexual mores actually in practice, from their classmates. Teen culture doesn't have a lot of adherents to teen abstinence. This is the blind leading the blind.
Today, there are a number of sexually transmitted diseases which can cause problems for a lifetime. According to current statistics, fully 20% of our population is afflicted with herpes! While medication is available to help manage this disease, there are significant risks associated with taking the medication, with no guarantee of not infecting their partner. AIDS is incurable and can be transmitted through a single sexual encounter. As for pregnancy, a teen is simply not emotionally equipped to be a parent " not yet. If you talk to your teenager on a purely practical level, it won't be hard to convince them that life will change radically and for their lifetime.
You may be shocked to know that most teens can relate to the responsibilities and constraints parenthood presents. More than likely, they know someone who is a teenage parent and are well aware of how that friend's life is changed by an imprudent moment and lack of discipline.
Promoting teen abstinence requires that you, the parent, get a reality check. Do a little research and lay it all out for them to digest. Kids do have common sense. It's up to you to structure the facts so that it's irrefutable, morals and religion notwithstanding. Now the issue of teen abstinence still inserts the moral or religious element, with an indisputable host of real-life reasons that stick.
Educating teens is the answer. Remember, this is the age group that disputes the necessity of almost everything that's good for them! However, this doesn't mean that a few salient facts won't get through. Guilt may be induced through moral avenues of argument, but there are some hard-hitting facts and reasons that will give them pause, when nothing else does.
Moral and religious arguments may carry some weight while you're talking, but in the heat of the moment, kids are not thinking of that chat. This is where the concept of teen abstinence is about the furthest idea from their mind. It's not that kids don't want to go along with the idea, they simply don't have the discipline, experience or inclination.
A more practical approach yields a better measure of success. For example, some parents are reluctant to talk to their teens about sexual matters. They don't know how to bring up the subject naturally. There are websites which give parents ideas on how to talk to kids about sex. Take a look at some of these and find an approach which is comfortable for you and your child.
A fact-finding perspective can be most valuable. You may cringe at the thought of talking about STDs, AIDS and teenage pregnancy. This is an outdated attitude. However unfortunate, kids know all about the sexual mores actually in practice, from their classmates. Teen culture doesn't have a lot of adherents to teen abstinence. This is the blind leading the blind.
Today, there are a number of sexually transmitted diseases which can cause problems for a lifetime. According to current statistics, fully 20% of our population is afflicted with herpes! While medication is available to help manage this disease, there are significant risks associated with taking the medication, with no guarantee of not infecting their partner. AIDS is incurable and can be transmitted through a single sexual encounter. As for pregnancy, a teen is simply not emotionally equipped to be a parent " not yet. If you talk to your teenager on a purely practical level, it won't be hard to convince them that life will change radically and for their lifetime.
You may be shocked to know that most teens can relate to the responsibilities and constraints parenthood presents. More than likely, they know someone who is a teenage parent and are well aware of how that friend's life is changed by an imprudent moment and lack of discipline.
Promoting teen abstinence requires that you, the parent, get a reality check. Do a little research and lay it all out for them to digest. Kids do have common sense. It's up to you to structure the facts so that it's irrefutable, morals and religion notwithstanding. Now the issue of teen abstinence still inserts the moral or religious element, with an indisputable host of real-life reasons that stick.
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