Teen Pregnancy: The Sports Solution

Recent studies show that girls involved in sports are less likely to be sexually active. Twelve-year-old Claire prefers basketball to boys but she says her friends have other interests. “Their hair, their clothes, their reputation,” says Claire. “Mostly all they want to do is impress the boys,” says Claire.”

Experts say girls who sweat it out on the court have a big advantage over their preening peers. “It does give them another way to look at themselves,” says Dr. Laura Mee, a child psychologist. “Athletic girls see their bodies as a powerful force and not just sort of ornamental.”

Studies conducted by the Women’s Sports Foundation show that girls involved in sports are less likely to become pregnant, have fewer sexual partners and are more likely to use birth control than their non-athletic classmates.

Mee says the strength it takes to be a girl in traditionally male sports may give girls the strength to say no when they are getting the full court press from a boyfriend. active.

Dr. Mee encourages parents to get their daughters involved in sports. “ Make it as important that your daughters have sporting events as you would for your son. Treat them as equally as you possibly can,” says Mee. Still, Mee cautions that sports is not the magic answer. Parents should not assume that sports will keep their children safe from early sexual activity, but there are strong indications that athletic girls are less likely to become sexually active at an early age.

What Parents Can Do:
Adapted from the National Association of School Psychologists

Determine your child‘s interest. Choose a sport that suits your child’s personality. Does she crave structure and team involvement or prefer to develop her own routines and work on her own. Tennis or golf may be preferable for the child who prefers individual competition while basketball or soccer might be a better choice for a child interested in team play.

Match skill level and ability. Make sure your child can play at the team skill level. There are both instructional and competitive levels of play in most children’s leagues. Pick a league that suits your child’s personality and level of ability.

Listen to your child. If interest decreases as the season intensifies, investigate the reason and determine whether there is a lack of interest. Allow a child to give up the sport if she is not interested or excited about playing.

Know your own expectations. When winning is more important to a parent than to a child, it may be time to find other extra-curricular activities.