Parent Tips
Parents Talk to Your Teens:
Their Health & Safety Depend on it!
75% of teens surveyed by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy know sending sexually explicit messages or pictures can have negative consequences, yet 39% of teens still send these messages regardless of the consequences.
- While most teens who send sexually suggestive content are sending it to boyfriends/girlfriends, others say they are sending such material to those they want to "hook up" with or someone they only know online.
Teens with involved parents are less likely to make risky decisions or get pregnant. Research shows that kids want their parents to talk to them, even if it seems like they don't.
Talking is one of the best ways to get involved with your teen but it's not always the easiest. The following resources are to help make talking to your teen easier.
- 5 Parent Tips from the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, and Cosmo Girl
- Start the Talk. (includes a questionnaire)
Sex & Tech
With Sexting being such a new teen fad, it's not a surprise that most parents don't know what it is, let alone what to do about it. This video might help: How to Handle Sexting
Have some fun! Learn text lingo. Know what your teen is saying in their texts & incorporate it into your own texts.
Unfortunately, Sexting is only one of many tech problems that teens potentially face today.
Click here to check out CBS's interactive tips: Protecting Your Children Online.
Help Youth Socialize Safely Online:
Social networking sites have morphed into a mainstream medium. These sites encourage & enable people to exchange information about themselves, share pictures and videos, and use blogs & private messaging to communicate with friends, others who share interests and sometimes even the world-at-large.
That’s why it’s important to be aware of the possible pitfalls that come with networking online. Parents sometimes feel outpaced by their technologically savvy kids. Technology aside, there are lessons that parents can teach to help kids stay safe as they socialize online.
The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, urges parents to talk to their tweens & teens about social networking sites and offers tips for using sites safely.
Click here for their Parent’s Guide to Social Networking Sites.