Technology Has Changed or Amplified the Struggles Young People Face
Based on the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance data, 39.5% of high school students reported being sexually active. That means sexual activity had declined slightly over the past decade.
Fortunately, the teen birth rate has declined over the past decade too. Births to teens ages 15 to 19 accounted for 5.0% of all births in 2017. The decline in pregnancy doesn’t necessarily mean teens are using protection, however.
Of the 20 million new sexually transmitted diseases each year, more than half were among young people between the ages of 15 and 24.
Parents may not believe their children are sexually active, however. Talk to your teen about sex, even if you don’t think your child is engaging in sexual activity.
In 2017, about 6% of seniors reported using marijuana daily. Marijuana use exceeds cigarette use is in teens now. In fact, many teens believe marijuana is less harmful now than in years past. This new perception may be due to the changing laws surrounding marijuana.
Meanwhile, other illicit drug use has held steadily at the lowest levels according to a study published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. For instance, teen use of illicit drugs in 2017 was the lowest since the study began in 1975.
Make sure you have regular conversations about the dangers of drugs. And don’t forget to mention the dangers of prescription drugs. Many teens do not recognize the dangers of taking a friend’s prescription or popping a few pills that are not prescribed to them. Unfortunately, teens often underestimate how easy it is to develop an addiction. And they don’t understand the risks associated with overdosing. Be sure you are talking about these risks on a consistent basis.
As of 2017, alcohol use and being drinking showed a significant decline among teenagers. Despite the decline, 33.2% of high school seniors still report drinking alcohol within the past month.
Talk to teens about the risks of underage drinking. Educate them about the dangers, including the fact that alcohol can take a serious toll on a teenager’s developing brain. Also, do not shy away from expressing your disapproval of underage drinking. Saying you don’t approve can make a big difference in whether your teen decides to drink.
About 6% of high school students drop out of high school each year in the United States, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.9 A high school dropout is likely to earn $200,000 less over his lifetime when compared to a high school graduate, which can have a significant impact on a young person’s future.
But, it’s no longer just the “troubled teens” who are dropping out of school. Some teens feel so much pressure to get into a good college that they’re burning themselves out before they graduate from high school.
Stay involved in your teen’s education. Provide support and guidance and be ready to assist your teen if he encounters problems.
can be great ways for teens to connect with one another; but social media can be problematic for several reasons. For instance, social media can expose your teen to
, and so much more. And, while there are some
, there are a lot of risks as well. Social media can have a
negative impact on friendships
. It can even impact their mental health.
But, no matter what precautions you take, teens are still likely to be exposed to unsavory people, unhealthy images, and sexual content online. While there are measures being put into place to reduce the risks kids face online, it’s important for parents to get involved.
Help your teen learn how to navigate social media in a healthy way. Talk about ways to stay safe online. And most importantly, know what your teen is doing online. Educate yourself about the latest apps, websites, and social media pages teens are using and take steps to keep your teen safe. You may even want to take steps to
limit your teen’s screen time.
Teenagers are going to witness some violent media at one time or another. And it’s not just TV, music, and movies that depict violence. Many of today’s
portray gory scenes and disturbing
Over the past couple of decades, a multitude of studies linked watching violence to a lack of
. And studies show the number one factor in determining how kids relate to media is how their parents think and act.
, the more violence parents watch, the more likely they are to think it’s OK for their kids to view. Pay attention to your teen’s media use. Don’t allow teens to watch R-rated movies or to play M-rated video games. It’s not healthy for them to consume that material.
Also, talk to your teen about the dangers of being exposed to violent images and monitor your teen’s mental state. It’s also important to talk about sexual situations and racial stereotypes that your teen might see. Teens need to learn how to identify what is good and what is bad about media. It helps them become a healthier consumer when they can think objectively about what they are seeing online, in the movie theater, or in a video game.
Bringing up any difficult subjects with your teen can feel uncomfortable. And your teen isn’t likely to respond well to a lengthy lecture or too many direct questions. But having a conversation with your teen about difficult issues is not something you should shy away from. Even when it seems like they are not listening, you are the most influential person in your teen’s life. It is important to lay a strong foundation before the window of opportunity closes.
, or other uncomfortable situations is to ask a question like, “Do you think this is a big issue at your school?” Listen to what your teen has to say. Try not to be judgmental but make your expectations and opinions clear. It is important that your teen understands that you don’t condone certain behaviors and that they know the
A good way to strike up a conversation about drugs, sex,
https://www.verywellfamily.com/startling-facts-about-todays-teenagers-2608914