Parents

Are you a parent of a teenager or a pre-teen? If so, you probably have concerns about teen pregnancy, sexual behavior, and sexual health. The good news is, you may be a bigger influence on your teen than you think. One of the most important things you can do as a parent is talk with your kids about sex, including sharing your values and what you think is and isn’t OK for teens. For some tips on talking with your teen, see our fact sheet Tips for Talking with Teens. For more resources on what you can do, see our fact sheet What Can Parents Do. For more information on teen births and sexual behavior in Massachusetts, read our annual report Teens and Sex in Massachusetts.

Talking about sex and values aren’t the only things young people need to prevent pregnancy and develop into healthy adults - they also need to learn how to take charge of their health. A recent study found that teens are cautious about revealing sensitive information to health care providers for fear of being judged, and are reluctant to talk to unfamiliar or multiple medical staff. One thing parents can do is give their teens a voice in their own health care decisions. This great online guide can help you get started if you haven’t already.