To help children avoid teen pregnancy a parent must provide a strong foundation of morality, self esteem, and discipline. Honest and accurate information is also a must to counter the disinformation teens are often flooded with from their peers and often from their schools as well.

1.Give your children a strong moral foundation. Don't send them to church, take them

there. Lead by example in showing them that a life pleasing to God is something to
strive for and be committed to.

2.Teach you kids that they have value. They are great, fun, smart, and amazing people.
Anyone who doesn't love them for who they are must be stoned or stupid.

3.Teach your daughters to respect and love themselves. If a guy wouldn't bend over
backwards for the pleasure of their company alone, he's must have "issues".

4.Teach your sons to the value of being able to respect their girl friend. In the book of
proverbs Solomon teaches the value of a virtuous wife. Today's girl friend may be
tomorrow's wife. It's best to keep her "virtuous" just in case.

5.Teach them that actions have consequences either good or bad. Reward good behavior and
good choices. Punish bad behavior and wrong choices. Don't wait until they are teens.
Start young!

6.As your children grow older, remember that they are not miniature adults. A teen is
still a child. If they are not willing to abide by parental rules regarding where they
go, who they are with, and what they do they can always choose to stay home. You're
the parent. It's your rules, not theirs.

7.Counter the "safe sex" myth with hard truth. The failure rate of condoms in preventing
teen pregnancy, according to the FDA, is 17%. If that is "safe" odds then Russian
roulette, with one live round, must be a safe game because the odds are the same!
(Incidentally, he failure rate for disease prevention is 36%, that's like having two
bullets!)

8.Be an informed parent. Know where your teen is, who he/she is with, and what their
plans are. Demand to be informed, in advance, if those plans change.

9.Before you allow teens to be out unescorted, get them a cell phone. Even a cheap
prepaid phone will do. If they get in a pressure situation they can call you. If they
call, drop everything and go bring them home.

10.Know your child. Be honest with your self and really asses your teen's moral status.
If you can not trust him or her then keep the kid at home!

Learn more about this author, Rev. R. D. Brown.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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