Recently in Teens Category
Jul 09 2008
Toddler Time
The Baby Borrowers is back tonight - and this time the teen "parents" are caring for toddlers. Toddlers, as they soon find out, are a whole lot different than babies - they're mobile, they have tempers, and there are lots of potty-training mishaps. It may surprise you to see how the couples handle this new set of challenges. Just because things went smoothly for some with the babies doesn't mean toddlers will be easy too. Shows like this one provide a great opportunity to talk with the teens in your life about sex, love, relationships and pregnancy prevention. To get the conversation started, check out our Discussion Guides. And tell us what you think of the show, the lessons contained within, and your reaction to the experiment...take our short online survey or leave us your comments on the blog. Tune in to NBC tonight to find out who says "This is where they go running for the condom aisle!" and why.
Jul 03 2008
The "social experiment" contines...
Episode 2 of the Baby Borrowers premiered last night (July 2) on NBC and was full of many more real life situations for the "parents" to deal with.
After sleepless nights and busy days feeding, changing, and playing with their infants, two of the "moms" make unexpected requests to their boyfriends -- they want to go to work. And just as the pressure of maintaining a job, house, and family is really starting to build, the "parents" must say goodbye to their infants and get their first evaluation from the real moms and dads of their former babies.
What did you think of Episode 2? If you missed it, visit the Baby Borrowers official site to watch clips and see interviews with the teen parents. Then come back here and let us know what you think on our brief online survey.
Jul 01 2008
Reaction to Baby Borrowers
Thanks to all of you who have posted your thoughts about the NBC show, The Baby Borrowers. In addition to the blogging (verb) that has already been done here on the blog (noun), we have also gotten comments about the show on one of our websites---TheNationalCampaign.org.
By no means complete, here is a flavor of some of the comments we have gotten to date from our website. The Baby Borrowers runs for five more weeks. Please continue to let us know what you think.
Jun 20 2008
Baby Mama Drama: Update!
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past 24 hours, you now know that several students from a high school in Gloucester, MA apparently made a pact to become pregnant and raise their babies together. This news broke the very same day that 17-year old actress Jamie Lynn Spears gave birth to a baby girl. Needless to say, these two events have focused national attention on the issue of teen and unplanned pregnancy.
So, what do we think? See below:
1. Gloucester High Teens: selected press clips, resources for parents and educators, and other pertinent links, and a recent Pregnant Pause post on this issue
2. Jamie Lynn Spears: The National Campaign statement, selected press clips, and resources for parents and educators
UPDATE:
Sarah Brown on the CBS Early Show, June 23rd
Also, check out The National Campaign's fearless leader Sarah Brown on the June 20th edition of The Today Show:
Keep an eye on TheNationalCampaign.org for up-to-date info on these and other stories.
Jun 19 2008
Pregnancy Pact Plot Postmortem
This just in from Massachusetts about a pack of little girls who decided to get pregnant together. This is exhibit #50928345 in a basic reality today: our culture and its constituent parts--parents, media, faith leaders, elected officials and more--have failed in one of our most critical and basic jobs, which is communicating to the next generation about what babies need and deserve. And what are those things? The list includes having adult parents who are deeply and sincerely committed to each other; who are willing to be active, devoted parents for decades; and who have done the best they can to get educated so that they and their children need not struggle with poverty. I cannot believe that if these girls had been surrounded by a culture and families who were clear and explicit about these simple facts that they would have been so reckless.
Why didn't they just go get tattoos together or do some other innocuous adolescent thing? This
Jun 13 2008
People are Buzzing About "The Baby Borrowers"
Dozens of news organizations are picking up an AP story today with news that readers of this blog already know: NBC's new reality show, "The Baby Borrowers," is a great way for teens (and everyone) to start talking about preventing teen pregnancy.
The show follows five teen couples who think they're ready for parenthood, as they care for babies, toddlers, pre-teens, teens and senior citizens. We urge everyone to check it out on Wednesday, June 25 at 8pm ET/PT.
A discussion guide to help facilitate conversations after watching the show is available from The National Campaign. For the AP story about a National Campaign Youth Leadership Team viewing party, click here.
Watch more clips from the first episodes of "The Baby Borrowers" after the jump.
Jun 10 2008
Plan, Planning, Planful
I am totally on board with a key quote from an op-ed in seattlepi.com:
"It's odd that we live in a culture that values planning in everything from education to retirement to weddings, yet we're expected to believe that starting a family is something that's supposed to happen, without preparation or choice."
We have been saying this for years at the Campaign. Our list of what one is to plan is even longer--meals, vacations, retirement, living wills, outfits, college savings and more. But somehow it is not in fashion to even talk about the value of planning carefully and deliberately--both partners, too--for child-bearing
And if we expand the concept just a bit to include what we are supposed to not only plan but also worry about, the inattention to getting pregnant and starting families is even more striking. I recall years ago getting a pamphlet about how I should worry--REALLY worry--about radon in my basement. When will I get a pamphlet about how planning pregnancy (for those who want children) is worthy of a great deal of thought and consideration and commitment? We worry about nutrition, recycling, bicycle helmets, what to put on the surfaces of playgrounds, and lord knows what else....How about worrying that half of all pregnancies are unplanned? HALF?
When will this nation get serious about getting pregnant?
Jun 04 2008
Running in Place
The CDC has just released new data on high school teens' sexual behavior and contraceptive use. Headline? Not too good.
Teen sexual activity is up and contraceptive use is down between 2005 and 2007. On every single measure (ever had sex, currently sexually active, condom use at last sex, pill use, four or more sexual partners) the arrows are pointing in the wrong direction.
Perhaps the more interesting and significant trend, however, is the tale of two decades. All of these same measures (with the exception of birth control pill use which has declined steadily since 1991) improved dramatically between 1991 and 2001. Between 2001 and 2007? The most charitable description of the current decade is...well...running in place.
A few more YRBS items for your consideration:
· National Campaign press release
· National Campaign fact sheet
· Full YRBS report
Tell us what you think. Why do you think teen sexual behavior is changing?
Jun 03 2008
"It's Not TV, It's Birth Control!"
On June 25th, NBC premieres its riveting new reality show, The Baby Borrowers. Over six intense, heartwarming, and hilarious episodes we see teen couples who think they're ready to have children, care for real, live babies, then toddlers, then tweens, then teenagers and finally senior citizens. It's life in fast forward as they try to negotiate the challenges of parenting along with maintaining their relationships. Unlike other reality shows - no one gets voted off here, no one is competing for a prize - the drama is the journey itself and the rewards are lessons learned about adult life. Learn more about the show at http://www.nbc.com/The_Baby_Borrowers/.
The Campaign has been lucky to work with NBC around the launch of this show, and we've collaborated with them on discussion guides for parents and teens who watch together and want to talk about it. Please take the time to check out The Baby Borrowers on June 25th at 8PM ET/PT. And let us know what you think about it!
Spoiler alert: There wasn't a dry eye in the house when we watched the final episode.
May 21 2008
Some Enchanted Evening
While Prom Night may be little more than a distant memory to most of us, for this year's crop of seniors and juniors (and in some rare cases, sophomores and freshmen), Prom 2008 is right around the corner.
And while you'll hear all about the perfect dress, and how expensive (and stupid) corsages are, and whether they can rent a stretch Hummer, let's be real - what you're really worried about happens after prom.
To that end, check out our semi-regular feature "Stay Out Loud" on our sister site StayTeen.org. This short essay section features different topics important to teens and this month's feature on Prom Night is written by Becca, a member of our Youth Leadership Team.
We'd love to know what you think!
