Family planning skills and smart parenting tips for teens.
BOOKS ON PARENTING
(Click on the picture to go to Amazon.com)
Your Baby's First Year: A Guide for Teenage Parents (Teen Pregnancy and Parenting Series)
By Jeanne Warren Lindsay. Morning Glory Press, 2004.
This special book written just for young parents gives important information from the beginning of a child's life to the end of its first year. Aimed at teenagers making it on their own, as well as those who live with their parents. Also provides a chapter specifically aimed at teen fathers and the responsibilities they have to their new family.
By Jeanne Warren Lindsay. Morning Glory Press, 2004.
This special book written just for young parents gives important information from the beginning of a child's life to the end of its first year. Aimed at teenagers making it on their own, as well as those who live with their parents. Also provides a chapter specifically aimed at teen fathers and the responsibilities they have to their new family.
Will the Dollars Stretch? Teen Parents Living on Their Own (Teen Pregnancy and Parenting Series)
By Sudie Pollock, M.A. Morning Glory Press, 2001.
Split up into chapters dealing with different financial situations, this book takes real-life teen parents and shows that it is difficult to support even a small family, but also includes tips on how to do so. Updated to include current welfare guidelines and living costs.
Split up into chapters dealing with different financial situations, this book takes real-life teen parents and shows that it is difficult to support even a small family, but also includes tips on how to do so. Updated to include current welfare guidelines and living costs.
BOOKS FOR COUPLES
The Complete Financial Guide for Young Couples: A Lifetime Approach to Spending, Saving, and Investing
By Larry Burkett. David C. Cook, 2002.
This book provides a financial guide and answers questions such as "Can we afford to buy a house?" and "Are credit cards a no-no?" It will help guide young couples in creating a working budget, figuring out insurance, and even teaching your children about finances. This book, however, includes some "biblical direction," but was included because of the immense practical advice it covers.
By Larry Burkett. David C. Cook, 2002.
This book provides a financial guide and answers questions such as "Can we afford to buy a house?" and "Are credit cards a no-no?" It will help guide young couples in creating a working budget, figuring out insurance, and even teaching your children about finances. This book, however, includes some "biblical direction," but was included because of the immense practical advice it covers.
A Guide for Teenage Parents
By Teresa Watson. Aji Custom Printing, 2007.
Life can get out of hand when you're expecting a new baby. This book focuses on helping parents become organized and set goals for the future. Also stresses the importance of continuing education after a child is born, and shows that it is possible to attend and graduate college if a parent is interested in doing so. The author also gives advice in giving your child his or her own success in school.
Life can get out of hand when you're expecting a new baby. This book focuses on helping parents become organized and set goals for the future. Also stresses the importance of continuing education after a child is born, and shows that it is possible to attend and graduate college if a parent is interested in doing so. The author also gives advice in giving your child his or her own success in school.
Teen Dads: Rights, Responsibilities, and Joys (Teen Pregnancy and Parenting Series)
By Jeanne Warren Lindsay. Morning Glory Press, 2008.
Teen dads will appreciate this look at parenting written especially for them. Deals with many issues of teen parenting, such as creating a relationship with the child even if the parents aren't together, understanding how the mother feels during pregnancy and after, as well as planning for the future.
Teen dads will appreciate this look at parenting written especially for them. Deals with many issues of teen parenting, such as creating a relationship with the child even if the parents aren't together, understanding how the mother feels during pregnancy and after, as well as planning for the future.
Communication Miracles for Couples: Easy and Effective Tools to Create More Love and Less Conflict
By Jonathan Robinson. Conari Press, 2009.
Communication is one of the most important skills for a newly married couple. This book provides simple to follow steps that are practical and realistic to do when in an argument. Practice these exercises to become better communicators.
Communication is one of the most important skills for a newly married couple. This book provides simple to follow steps that are practical and realistic to do when in an argument. Practice these exercises to become better communicators.
MAGAZINES
Parenting
A great resource for new parents, this magazine offers advice on caring for yourself and your baby. Learn about child development, how to handle behavior issues, child nutrition, and more.
Parents
This magazine covers a variety of topics important to families from birth to the teen years. Find articles on behavior & discipline, potty training, child development, health, and safety.
VIDEO RESOURCES
Annenberg Learner Series - The Whole Child: A Caregiver's Guide to the First Five Years
This is a series of Public Television instructional videos designed to be shown in the classroom for high school and college students. This particular series, The Whole Child, is a series of thirteen half hour videos that can be viewed for free online, taking the viewer through important lessons during the first five years of a new child. The videos cover a wide variety of topics, such as developmental skills, dealing with feelings, creativity and self-expression.
This is a series of Public Television instructional videos designed to be shown in the classroom for high school and college students. This particular series, The Whole Child, is a series of thirteen half hour videos that can be viewed for free online, taking the viewer through important lessons during the first five years of a new child. The videos cover a wide variety of topics, such as developmental skills, dealing with feelings, creativity and self-expression.
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WatchKnow - Parenting
WatchNow is a site dedicated to collecting as many educational videos as can be found from the web into one location, all suggested by teachers and educators.This category deals with various parenting issues, with several subcategories on topics such as peer pressure, allowance, homework and reading to children.
WatchNow is a site dedicated to collecting as many educational videos as can be found from the web into one location, all suggested by teachers and educators.This category deals with various parenting issues, with several subcategories on topics such as peer pressure, allowance, homework and reading to children.
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MonkeySee - Parenting
This link is to MonkeySee’s Parenting page, where you can find videos on such topics as health and safety, games to play with kids, and bullying. There are various subcategories on the left under the “parenting” header for more videos.
This link is to MonkeySee’s Parenting page, where you can find videos on such topics as health and safety, games to play with kids, and bullying. There are various subcategories on the left under the “parenting” header for more videos.
WEBSITES
Thinking of getting married? Here are some resources to help you!
- Teenage Marriage Basics - About.com's guide to marriage as a teen, with a number of articles relating to a variety of aspects of the topic. The guide is compiled and edited by Sheri & Bob Stritof, published authors of The Everything Great Marriage Book.
- Teen Marriage Laws- Before making any wedding plans, you should check out what the legal requirements for marriage are in your state.
- Budget Weddings - Weddings can be expensive! Here are some suggestions from the wedding website TheKnot.com on how to keep costs down on your big day.
Having a baby? Here are some resources selected with just you in mind!
- Telling Parents You're Pregnant - For some teenagers, just the idea of telling your parents that you are pregnant is scary. The Nemours Center for Children's Health Media has put together some suggestions on how you can break the news to your parents.
- Baby Budget Calculator - Created by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, this will help give you an idea of what the costs for the first year will be. If you're worried about being able to support yourself and your baby, you might want to look into state and local programs that can help keep you on your feet
- Having a Healthy Pregnancy - The Nemours Center also has general information on teenage pregnancy, like what changes to expect in your body and how to take care of yourself during your pregnancy.
- Especially for Teens: Having a Baby - This is a pamphlet published by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists geared specifically towards teenage mothers. It offers health tips and information on pregnancy and covers everything from prenatal care to being a mother and planning for the future.
- Teenage Pregnancy - MedlinePlus, the National Institute of Health's website for patients and their families/friends has put together an informational guide on Teenage Pregnancy. Topics include an overview of teenage pregnancy and related issues but you can also browse the website for information on more specific health questions you may have on your pregnancy in general.
- Organizations for Teenage Pregnancy - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has compiled a list of various organizations and agencies dealing with teenage pregnancy. Feel free to browse the sites to see if any of them interest or can help you.
- Promoting Pregnancy Wellness - This site, created by the American Pregnancy Association, has a wealth of information on pregnancy in general, not just teenage pregnancy. Questions on planning and preparing for the birth, health complications, or finding a doctor? You can find the answers to those - and many more - here.
- A Guide for First-Time Parents - The baby's here! Now what?! This guide, produced by the Nemours Center, will help you through those first exciting months with your new baby. You'll be able to learn additional information on topics like "Learning, Play and Your Newborn," "Communication and Your New Born" and "Bonding with Your Baby."
State and Local Programs for Teenage Parents
There are a variety of programs and organizations designed to help support teenage parents on a more local level. We've singled out two examples, but that does not mean there aren't more in your area. A good place to start looking for local programs is your state's Department of Human Services or Department of Children and Families.
- Insights Teen Parent Program - Based in Oregon, Insights provides in-home and community based services for teenage parents, including parent education, emergency assistance, school advocacy and transitional housing.
- Services for Teen Parents - An overview of the services provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services for Teen Parents. Although these services are only for Illinois residents, they can give you a good idea of what options your state might be able to provide for you, like programs designed to help you finish school.
Don't forget - you're not alone. There are a number of discussion boards and forums out there where you can talk to people that are in the same position as you.
Here are two discussion boards where you can go to exchange advice and receive support from people going through the exact same things you are.
Here are two discussion boards where you can go to exchange advice and receive support from people going through the exact same things you are.
