How our teens view sex is far more casual these days. Teens are also less likely to have close, personal, high-quality relationships with sex partners. "Hooking up" is the trend. And they are also engaging in sex acts at far younger ages.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than half of teens are having oral sex and nearly a third believe that oral sex is abstinent behavior. Research published by the American Academy of Pediatrics discovered that today's adolescents believe oral sex to be safer and less risky than intercourse.

1. Get savvy about today's too sexy, too soon world so you are "in the know"


2. Monitor! First sexual experiences happen at home when parents are not present.


3. Talk health. Provide up-to-date facts about HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, and birth control. Love isn't just about romance; it's about staying safe.


4. Lock your liquor supply. Studies show that drinking alcohol is a precursor to early sexual activity. Of the nearly half the 12 and 13-year old boys who tried alcohol and 37 percent of girls, 17 percent of the boys and 22 percent of the girls reported having had sexual intercourse by age 14 or 15.


5. Stay connected. The best deterrent to early sexual activity appears to be the state of your relationship with your child. About 20 percent of both boys and girls whose parents reported a poor relationship with them during those preteen years had sex by 15, almost double the number of kids who had good parental relationships

More Young Love "Firsts"

• First Puppy Love
• First Crush
• First Steady
• First Breakup
• First Date
• First Real Love
• First Time
  

---

Dr. Michele Borba is the author of over 22 books including 12 Simple Secrets Real Moms Know.