A planned pregnancy, when the woman is financially stable and emotionally prepared, can be a wonderful experience. Often, however, a teenager becomes pregnant unexpectedly and without adequate resources. Some girls have a glamorized view of pregnancy and intentionally become pregnant before they are prepared. While sex education programs are often available in schools, parents remain the best teachers for their children regarding the prevention of pregnancy.
Maintain Open Communication
Foster an atmosphere of open communication throughout your child's life. Be a parent that your teen can talk to without fear of yelling or repercussion. Ask questions about your child's life, and give honest answers to her questions. Do not give your daughter the perception that you feel she is perfect, as this can cause her to avoid telling you about her imperfections. See your child and yourself as good people who occasionally get things wrong but learn from it.
Discuss Your Expectations
Discuss your expectations for your child. While saying that you expect your daughter to become a doctor is not appropriate, saying that you expect your child to graduate high school and consider going to college is fine. Encourage goal setting and followup on personal achievement. According to the University of California, having strong educational and career plans helps prevent teen pregnancy.
Discuss Sex and Healthy Relationships
"The talk" should actually be dozens of talks, spread out from early childhood through adulthood for both sexes. Discuss healthy sexual relationships and why it is important to wait until she is mature enough to engage in sex and deal with its consequences. Talk about the basics of birth control and your feelings on abstinence. Discuss appropriate boundaries and why the teenage years are the time to learn about sharing nonphysical intimacy with others. Make it clear that abusive relationships are always to be avoided, no matter how much she loves someone. Discuss how healthy people do not pressure others to engage in activities they are not ready for. Engage your child in conversations about the ramifications of pregnancy and the enormous responsibility of raising a child.
Encourage Good Health Care
Take your child to the physician for regular appointments. Once your child is a teen, ask her if she would like you to wait in the lobby or stay with her throughout the visit. Ensure that the move from medical care as a child to medical care as an adult, and then a sexually active adult, is a seamless transition.
Know Who Your Child Is Dating
You should know well your child's friends and whom she is currently dating. The Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Parenting reminds parents that a child's friends have a large amount of influence on her behavior.
Set Limits
It is important to set limits for teens. This gives your child a compass to go by and an excuse when pressure strikes. Know where your teen will be, and with whom. Be alert for large amounts of time spent alone with a love interest. While this is a normal part of growing up, it is helpful if most of that time is supervised.
More Considerations
If you are not the parent of a teen, but you are interested in teen pregnancy prevention, become involved as a mentor. Promote healthy activities for teens and ensure that birth control and abstinence information are available for adolescents in your community.
