deciding about children

Deciding About ChildrenDeciding About Children

Making the DecisionMaking the Decision

Discuss responsibilities and set Discuss responsibilities and set common goalscommon goals

Realize that parenthood lasts a Realize that parenthood lasts a lifetimelifetime

Have a full understanding of the Have a full understanding of the demands and rewards of parenthooddemands and rewards of parenthood

Learn as much as you can about Learn as much as you can about childrenchildren

The Goal of ParenthoodThe Goal of Parenthood

Primary goal is to Primary goal is to help children grow help children grow and become and become mature, mature, independent independent individuals who can individuals who can make their own make their own decisions and decisions and accept accept responsibility for responsibility for their own actions.their own actions.

Helping Children Grow Up Helping Children Grow Up ResponsiblyResponsibly

Teach children values and standardsTeach children values and standards Must live a lifestyle that reflects your beliefsMust live a lifestyle that reflects your beliefs Children will follow and adopt similar Children will follow and adopt similar

values/standardsvalues/standards Let children learn new experiencesLet children learn new experiences

Learning the skill or lesson is more important Learning the skill or lesson is more important than perfectionthan perfection

Let children interact with othersLet children interact with others They want and need to meet many different They want and need to meet many different

peoplepeople

The Challenges of ParenthoodThe Challenges of Parenthood Parenting is an expression of Parenting is an expression of

lovelove Parenting involves Parenting involves

commitments of time and commitments of time and energyenergy

Parenting requires patienceParenting requires patience Parenting involves a major Parenting involves a major

financial commitmentfinancial commitment Cost of Raising A Baby Cost of Raising A Baby

Calculator:Calculator:http://conception.parenthood.com/colc.html

Teen ParentingTeen Parenting

Not prepared to face the physical, Not prepared to face the physical, emotional, social, and financial emotional, social, and financial challenges of parenthoodchallenges of parenthood

35% of girls will become pregnant at 35% of girls will become pregnant at least once before the age of 20least once before the age of 20

Babies of teen mothers are 2-3 times Babies of teen mothers are 2-3 times more likely to die within their first year more likely to die within their first year of life than to women in their 20’s.of life than to women in their 20’s.


1.1. Physical RisksPhysical Risks

1.1. Improper medical care or Improper medical care or nutrition during pregnancynutrition during pregnancy

2.2. Pregnancy related illness and Pregnancy related illness and complications are more commoncomplications are more common

3.3. Higher risks of having premature, Higher risks of having premature, low birth-weight babieslow birth-weight babies

4.4. Best childbearing years for Best childbearing years for women are 20-35women are 20-35


Emotional Emotional ChallengesChallenges Teen marriages due Teen marriages due

to pregnancy has a to pregnancy has a high divorce ratehigh divorce rate

Change in roles from Change in roles from adolescence to adolescence to parentsparents

Need to grow-up and Need to grow-up and take more take more responsibility quicklyresponsibility quickly


Social ChallengesSocial Challenges Less likely to Less likely to

experience a experience a normal social life normal social life with friends their with friends their ageage

Opportunities are Opportunities are limited due to the limited due to the fact they may be fact they may be working and have working and have child care child care responsibilitiesresponsibilities


Financial ChallengesFinancial Challenges Many lack stable financial Many lack stable financial

resources and secure jobsresources and secure jobs More likely to drop out of More likely to drop out of

schoolschool Many resort to Federal Aid Many resort to Federal Aid

Programs for financial support.Programs for financial support.

Teen PregnancyTeen Pregnancy

Facts, Implications, and Facts, Implications, and PreventionPrevention

FactsFacts 20% of adolescents have had sex before 20% of adolescents have had sex before

his/her 15his/her 15thth birthday birthday 77% of 19 year old females and 85% of 19 77% of 19 year old females and 85% of 19

year old males have engaged in sexual year old males have engaged in sexual intercourseintercourse

Each year 1 million adolescents become Each year 1 million adolescents become pregnantpregnant

Approximately 40% of American Women Approximately 40% of American Women experience pregnancy before the age of 20experience pregnancy before the age of 20

Approximately 80% of adolescent pregnancies Approximately 80% of adolescent pregnancies are completely unintentionalare completely unintentional

Among sexually active adolescents:Among sexually active adolescents:8% of 14 year olds8% of 14 year olds18% of 15-17 year olds18% of 15-17 year olds22% of 18-19 year olds 22% of 18-19 year olds

Become pregnant each year

Financial ImplicationsFinancial Implications

Adolescent parents don’t fare well financially.Adolescent parents don’t fare well financially. Adolescent mothers earn an average of $5,600 Adolescent mothers earn an average of $5,600

annually.annually. Teen moms have a 50% higher rate of welfare Teen moms have a 50% higher rate of welfare

dependence.dependence. They are 57% more likely to be a single parent They are 57% more likely to be a single parent

at least for their first 13 years of parenthood.at least for their first 13 years of parenthood. Teen moms are more likely than their non-Teen moms are more likely than their non-

child bearing teen counterpart to not graduate child bearing teen counterpart to not graduate high school, but more likely to earn a G.E.D. high school, but more likely to earn a G.E.D. (The income gap is never closed.)(The income gap is never closed.)

Financial Implications Con’tFinancial Implications Con’t

By age 27, adolescent fathers earn an By age 27, adolescent fathers earn an average of $5,000 less annually than their average of $5,000 less annually than their non-child bearing counterparts that delay non-child bearing counterparts that delay parenthood until age 20 or 21.parenthood until age 20 or 21.

Adolescent dads are not financially Adolescent dads are not financially prepared to make contributions financially prepared to make contributions financially to support their child.to support their child.

Additional costs for welfare, including food Additional costs for welfare, including food stamps is 2.2 billion dollars per year.stamps is 2.2 billion dollars per year.

Additional costs for medical expenses is Additional costs for medical expenses is 1.5 billion dollars per year.1.5 billion dollars per year.

Financial Implications Con’tFinancial Implications Con’t

If adolescent fathers income increases as If adolescent fathers income increases as they mature, the benefits rarely find their they mature, the benefits rarely find their way to the children they fathered. (Only way to the children they fathered. (Only 19% of adolescent couples married or 19% of adolescent couples married or stayed together.)stayed together.)

Only 15% of adolescent mothers are Only 15% of adolescent mothers are awarded court ordered support from the awarded court ordered support from the adolescent fathers and only 1/3 are able to adolescent fathers and only 1/3 are able to collect the original amount awarded.collect the original amount awarded.

40-50% of welfare costs for teen mothers 40-50% of welfare costs for teen mothers would be alleviated if the fathers were would be alleviated if the fathers were contributing their appropriate share.contributing their appropriate share.

Financial Implications Con’tFinancial Implications Con’t Constructing and maintaining prisons to house Constructing and maintaining prisons to house

the increased number of offenders that result the increased number of offenders that result from adolescent child bearing costs over 1 billion from adolescent child bearing costs over 1 billion dollars each yeardollars each year

The increased cost of foster care is The increased cost of foster care is approximately 1 billion dollars approximately 1 billion dollars

As a result of the adolescent fathers tendency to As a result of the adolescent fathers tendency to have irregular work patterns, the cost to society have irregular work patterns, the cost to society is approximately 1.3 billion dollars annually.is approximately 1.3 billion dollars annually.

Researchers estimate that the costs of Researchers estimate that the costs of adolescent pregnancy extend beyond welfare adolescent pregnancy extend beyond welfare assistance, medical costs, incarceration costs, assistance, medical costs, incarceration costs, and foster care. An accurate figure is difficult to and foster care. An accurate figure is difficult to compile, but the total financial cost is estimated compile, but the total financial cost is estimated at 21 billion dollars per year.at 21 billion dollars per year.

Academic/Educational Academic/Educational ImplicationsImplications

7 out of 10 teen mothers drop out of high 7 out of 10 teen mothers drop out of high school.school.

300,000 adolescent girls in the U.S. 300,000 adolescent girls in the U.S. annually do not complete high school.annually do not complete high school.

Teen fathers will finish an average of 11.3 Teen fathers will finish an average of 11.3 years of school by the age of 27.years of school by the age of 27.

Daughters of adolescent moms are 2-3 Daughters of adolescent moms are 2-3 times less likely to be rated “excellent” by times less likely to be rated “excellent” by their teachers. their teachers.

50% more likely to repeat a grade.50% more likely to repeat a grade. They performed significantly worse on They performed significantly worse on

their tests of cognitive development.their tests of cognitive development.

Ways to Prevent Teen PregnancyWays to Prevent Teen Pregnancy

An open and ongoing communication An open and ongoing communication between adolescents and parents, between adolescents and parents, “The Sex Talk”.“The Sex Talk”.

Teens should be taught about Teens should be taught about prevention by using a comprehensive prevention by using a comprehensive sexual education. sexual education.

Educating teens regarding Educating teens regarding contraceptives.contraceptives.

www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1997/babyguide.pdf

Pregnancy OptionsPregnancy Options

Adoption- Adoption-

Only two to three of every Only two to three of every 100 teen pregnancies 100 teen pregnancies lead to live births for lead to live births for which the mother makes which the mother makes an adoption plan.an adoption plan.

Abortion- Abortion-

About 20%percent of About 20%percent of abortions are obtained by abortions are obtained by teenagers.teenagers.

Keep the babyKeep the baby

•45% of teens who become pregnant unintentionally have abortions.

•In a study of 439 females (ages 12-21), 49% did not notify their parents when seeking an abortion.

•Teens may chose an abortion due to concerns about completing their education, financial problems or feel they are not mature enough to become a parent.

Deciding Whether to Have Deciding Whether to Have ChildrenChildren

Reasons for having childrenReasons for having children Want to bring a child into the world Want to bring a child into the world

as an expression of loveas an expression of love Want to enrich their lives and Want to enrich their lives and

share their experiences with share their experiences with childrenchildren

Want a family lifestyle Want a family lifestyle

Reasons for NOT Having Reasons for NOT Having ChildrenChildren

Personal FreedomPersonal Freedom Career ConcernsCareer Concerns Medical ProblemsMedical Problems Financial ConcernsFinancial Concerns FearFear

Other Factors Affecting Other Factors Affecting Parenting DecisionsParenting Decisions

Consider long-term and short-term goalsConsider long-term and short-term goals Evaluate your relationship as husband Evaluate your relationship as husband

and wife – STRONG and GROWINGand wife – STRONG and GROWING Family Planning- When and How Many?Family Planning- When and How Many? Planning means better prepared parentsPlanning means better prepared parents InfertilityInfertility AdoptionAdoption

deciding about children

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