Inculcate Moral Values in Your Children- Make Your Values Clear

Do you believe that sex should be reserved for marriage? Then tell your teen, clearly and often.  According to the book Beyond the Big Talk, research reveals that "in homes where parents have given their teen children clear messages that indicate that they disapprove of teens having intercourse, these teens are more likely to delay becoming involved in sexual intercourse."

Of course, as mentioned earlier, simply stating your values does not guarantee that your son or daughter will choose to live by them.  However, solid family values will provide a foundation upon which children can build their own.  And studies have found that many youths do eventually adopt their parents' values even if during the teen years the children seem to have put them in storage.

TRY THIS:  Use a news event to initiate a discussion and communicate your values.  For example, if a sex crime is reported, you might say:  "I'm appalled at the way some men try to take advantage of women.  Where do you think they get such ideas?'

Teach the whole truth about sex.
Warnings are necessary. (1 Corinthians 6:18; James 1:14, 15) However, the Bible primarily portrays sex as a gift of God, not as a trap of Satan.  (Proverbs 5:18, 19; Song of Solomon 1:2) Telling your teens only about the dangers may leave them with a distorted, unscriptural view of the topic.  "My parents put a lot of emphasis on sexual immorality," says a young woman in France named Corrina, "and that gave me a negative attitude toward sex relations."

Make sure that your children get the whole truth about sex.  "What I have always tried to get across to my teens, " says a mother in Mexico named Nadia, "is that sex is beautiful and natural and that Jehovah God gave it to humans for them to enjoy.  But it has its proper place within the marriage.  It can give us happiness or suffering, depending on how we use it."

TRY THIS: The next time you talk to your teen about sex, end the discussion on a positive note.  Do not be afraid to portray sex as a wonderful gift from God that he or she can enjoy in the future as a married person.  Convey confidence that until that time you teen can adhere to God's standards. 

Next time: Conclusion of The above subject

The Watchtower, 2011