Problems that Teen Parents Face and How to Combat Them

The life and future of teen parents and their children is not normally viewed in a positive light. Studies have shown that children born to teen parents perform more poorly in school and are more susceptible to neglect and abuse. This study cannot be true for every teen parent. There are teens out there that do a miraculous job raising their children. Teen parents do not have to become another statistic. Below are some of the common problems that teen parents face and how to combat these problems.

1. Teen parents face an interruption in education. Many teen mothers have no choice but to temporarily drop out of school to have their child. Many of the teen fathers end up dropping out of school because they have no choice but to work full time and sometimes overtime to support their child. The young parents find it difficult to complete the G.E.D. program because their time is usually spent caring for their child and working. A diplomas or G.E.D. are crucial to success.

There are a few ways to avoid interruption in education;

-Teen mothers can attend school during pregnancy, and arrange a way with the headmaster and teachers to complete school assignments while on maternity leave.

-Teen parents can obtain a childcare voucher from the local child welfare department. A childcare voucher will allow the teen to receive care for their child at a discounted price as long as the teen is in school or working. The teen will be able to complete their high school education while their child is in daycare.

-Teens can work really hard (academically) in high school to obtain a high G.P.A. which will make the eligible to receive certain scholarships. Some students get a free ride to college because of their academic excellence.

-Teen parents can attend college after graduating. Teens can still receive a voucher for their child to attend daycare while they are in college. College can be expensive but there are ways around the price of tuition. For instance, teens can first attend a community college and then transfer to a university once they have received their Associate degree. Community college costs much lesser to attend than attending four year colleges. Students with lower income and dependents usually qualify for more financial aid. What cannot be covered in free aid can be covered by taking out student loans.

-If teen parents cannot finish high school because of their workload can take online courses to receive their high school diploma. Local family resource centers and welfare departments can direct teen parents to programs for teenagers looking to finish school.

-Teen parents who need to work and go to school can consider attending night school to complete their high school education but will need a babysitter.

2. Teen parents face getting stuck in low paying jobs. It can be difficult to find jobs that pay over the minimum wage without a diploma or G.E.D. To avoid low paying jobs teens can;

-Volunteer at companies of their interest after the birth of their child. Volunteering will allow the teens to gain experience and learn new skills which will be beneficial when applying for a job. Teens that have experience can try to apply to office jobs without a high school diploma. Their chances of getting the job will be a bit higher than those without the experience.

-Teens can use their experience to work their way up in a company which will lead them to have higher pay.

3. Teen parents will have to make sure that they have a babysitter whenever they need to go out. Hiring a babysitter can get costly and is not always a reliable source of childcare. Instead of hiring a babysitter teens can;

-Ask relatives and friends of the family to watch their child. Teens can pay their family and friends back by helping them run errands, doing housework or watching their children.

-If the teen owns a car, he can provide transportation services for their relatives to pay them for watching their child.

4. Teen parents might have a hard time securing a job because of their availability. Jobs in the retail and hospitality industry call for a flexible schedule and teen parents usually have to adhere to a strict schedule. There are office jobs available for those with a firm schedule, but these jobs are not as abundant as the jobs offered in the retail or hospitality industry.

-Instead of looking for jobs strictly in the Monday through Friday timeframe, teens can ask responsible relatives or siblings to care for their child on the weekends so that they can work.

5. Teen parents may find it difficult to have a flourishing social life. Since most of the young parent's life will be focused on working, attending school, and caring for their baby socialization will be limited. Having a social life is healthy and should be continued throughout parenthood.

- Teens can keep a social life by attending groups for young parents, finding a pastime, going out once every two weeks, or befriending coworkers.

- If the teen is in college he should take an active role in student clubs and organizations

6. Young parents struggle with stress and depression because they face tougher lives. Stress is an ordinary part of parenting no matter the age. Life is not easy for the teen parent. Stress and depression can affect the way a parent raises and interacts with their child.

- It is important for teens to reach out and to not be afraid to ask others for help.

- If teens feel overwhelmed and need a break, they should call a babysitter, or talk to family and friends.

-Teens can arrange weekly or monthly play dates with a good friend or acquaintance. This will allow the parent a chance to relax and chat.

- Teens should join local mother groups in their area. They might find women there who share the same interest as them and will gain support from others in trying times.