Keeping Kids Healthy During the School Year
Teenagers go to school to learn, but what they learn from their peers may not always be correct. While it may be uncomfortable, it’s important to talk to your son or daughter about sex, drugs and alcohol. Teens get messages about these topics from friends, the media and in the classroom, so it’s crucial to help guide them through these often conflicting messages and share with them your personal values and beliefs. According to a study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, children who had conversations with their parents about a risky behavior (drug use, sex, etc.) were less likely to engage in that risky behavior. In addition, a 2007 study in the Journal of Adolescence reports that teens were much less likely to have initiated sexual intercourse if their parents taught them to say no, set rules, and talked about what was right and wrong. Offsetting the influences of peers and media may seem like a daunting task, but having an open, honest and direct line of communication with your child can have a positive effect on his or her behavior.
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