Early To Bed

• With increasing exposure to 'western' cultural mores through Hollywood teen-flicks and teen-centric TV serials, dating and premarital sex are considered 'cool', leading to peer pressure to become sexually active early
  
• Easy access to cyber porn
  
• Increased opportunities for interaction between boys and girls, with more places to 'hang out' unsupervised, such as cafes, malls, pubs and discos
  
• Easier access to drugs and alcohol
  
• With both parents often working, less parental supervision at home
  
• Lack of credible sex education both at school and home. Studies prove that those who receive comprehensive sex education delay their first sexual encounter.

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• Understand that sexual curiosity and increased interest in the opposite sex are normal symptoms of adolescence
  
• Keep the channels of communication open at all times
  
• Take out time to spend with your teenager
  
• Know his friends. Stay in touch with their parents.
  
• Place limits on spending and pocket money. Insist on bills for credit card expenditure and mobile phones.
  
• Instal a Net Nanny so there are limits on net surfing
  
• Support and partner with your child's school to make sex education available in an age-appropriate manner
  
• Answer every question that a child asks. If you don't have the answer, do get back with an answer later.

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