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Mia Redrick
Baltimore Parenting ExaminerParenting expert Mia Redrick is an author, lecturer, radio personality, personal coach and mother of three young children. She is a leader in the push for the self-care of mothers, and shares her wisdom on how to raise children without sacrificing personal needs.
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3 In 10 Girls Become Pregnant By Age 20
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by Mia Redrick, Baltimore Parenting Examiner
Is pop culture making teenage pregnancy glamorous? Are these teenage idols doing more damage than good? On June 19, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy released this information about teenage pregnancy.
"(Washington DC) - In response to the birth of a daughter to 17-year-old actress Jamie Lynn Spears, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy issued the following statement from CEO Sarah Brown:
"Every child deserves a warm welcome and we hope that Jamie Lynn Spears' new daughter, Maddie Briann, will be surrounded by much love, support and comfort. But the media frenzy that is sure to now erupt, as it did when this pregnancy was announced last December, provides every parent, teacher, media outlet and more a chance to state the truth: babies need and deserve adult parents who are committed to each other and to decades of being the best parents possible. Hundreds of thousands of teens and unmarried young adults get pregnant and become parents every single year, and few of them have Hollywood beginnings or endings. Getting pregnant and bearing children is one of the most important steps that any person ever takes, and it deserves careful planning, thought and consideration."
Key data. Recent data show that the declines in teen sex and improvements in contraceptive use have leveled off and that the teen birth rate is on the rise for the first time in 15 years. At present, 3 in 10 girls in the United States become pregnant by age 20. Despite a 38% decline between 1990 and 2004 (most recent data available), there are more than 729,000 teen pregnancies annually. In 2006, there were 435,000 births to teens. Moreover, at present, half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned.
About the National Campaign: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization that seeks to improve the lives and future prospects of children and families and, in particular, to help ensure that children are born into stable, two-parent families who are committed to and ready for the demanding task of raising the next generation. Our specific strategy is to prevent teen pregnancy and unplanned pregnancy among single, young adults. We support a combination of responsible values and behavior by both men and women and responsible policies in both the public and private sectors."
We all agree that it is tough to be a teenager today. Teenagers are exposed to so many things that we adults never had on our life buffet, including violent video games, adult content on tv and in movies, and exposure with access to information using technology. As a result, teens know a lot more than I did when I was younger. I remember that sex education in 5/6 grade was such a huge deal. I doubt that the same is true today.
Live fully,
Mia
Additional Resources: Please visit: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy
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