After the shocking news that Britney Spears' 16-year-old sister is pregnant, their mother has decided to delay publishing her parenting book... probably a good idea considering the shenanigans her daughters get up to.
The news about pregnant Jamie-Lynn, the star of hit TV series, Zoey 101, has caused a lot of concern for parental figures and teachers. This last week, the Spears family has been a controversial discussion at the tip of many tongues, from pre-teens to young adults, parents and grandparents. For adults, the key question has been: how do I talk to my children about this?
Jamie-Lynn's character on the show was a wholesome young girl, someone generally considered to be a good role model for young girls. With the pregnancy on the horizon, however, her good-girl reputation has been turned on its head. Has her pop-tart sister been too strong of an influence?
Countless articles are being pumped out of the media on how parents should deal with the issue when their kids ask, "Mom, can I have a baby when I'm 16 too?"
Here's what About.com advised:
Parents Disturbed by Spears
Media's Advice on Pregnant Teens
Trend Themes
1. Teen Pregnancy Education - An opportunity to develop educational resources that help parents and teachers navigate conversations with children about adolescent pregnancies.
2. Influence of Media on Youth - Opportunity to explore how media influences the behavior and attitudes of young people, and to develop strategies to mitigate negative impacts.
3. Parenting Guidance Content - An opportunity to deliver online tools and resources for parents to assist with parenting challenges and advice on how to build stronger communication with their children.
Industry Implications
1. Education - An opportunity for educational institutions to build awareness and implement programs that help prevent teenage pregnancies and educate young people on the realities of raising a child at a young age.
2. Media - An opportunity for media companies to re-evaluate the ways they portray teenage pregnancy and to provide more education-based programming.
3. Parenting Services - An opportunity for parenting services to create online resources and provide support to parents looking for guidance on how to discuss difficult topics with their kids.