Research on Kids
- The recent National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health found that without exception, a child's connection with parents is the single most important factor contributing to avoidance of unhealthy risk behaviors.
- 8 in 10 girls and 6 in 10 boys wish they would have waited to have sex. (National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, 2003).
- When it comes to their decisions about sex, teens say their parents are the most influential (National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, June 2000).
- Experts encourage parents to talk to their kids before adolescence when kids are most receptive to hearing from them. As kids approach their teen years, they are increasingly turning outside the home — to friends and the media — to learn about "the facts of life" (Kaiser Family Foundation & Children Now).
- Kids have to deal with "big problems" at a much younger age now. 55% of children between the age of 8-11 say that teasing and bullying is a concern at their age. 51% say that discrimination is a concern. 46 percent say that violence is a concern. 44% of kids ages 8-11 say that alcohol and drugs are a concern for them (Kaiser Family Foundation & Children Now).
- 33% of the 10-11 year olds say that pressure to have sex is a "big problem" for them (Kaiser Family Foundation & Children Now).
- While mom remains the number one resource among pre-teens and
teens, other influences start to gain significance once kids reach
adolescence (Kaiser Family Foundation & Children
Now).
- 43% of 12-15 year olds say that they learn "a lot" about issues like sex, alcohol and drugs, and violence from their friends.
- 37% of 12-15 year olds say they get "a lot" of their information from TV and movies.
- Information from fathers falls just behind movies and TV at 35%.
- Parents who wait for their kids to raise a topic may find
themselves waiting a long time (Kaiser Family
Foundation & Children Now). Reasons children give for not
discussing sex with their parents include:
- 70% "Too embarrassing"
- 61% "Parents will get worried if I ask;" they want to "protect" the parents.
- 52% "Parents just don't understand"
- Children who learn about the risks of drugs from their parents are less likely to use illegal drugs. However, only 28% of teens "learn a lot about the risk of drugs" from their parents (Campaign For Our Children, Inc.).
- 56% of students in grades 5-12 say that alcohol advertising encourages them to drink (Campaign For Our Children, Inc.).