Parents can assist in this effort by teaching their children their family's values and encouraging them to exemplify those values through their daily lives. Research on teen pregnancy prevention has revealed that prevention efforts are most successful when they include a component to improve life options. Parents can facilitate the setting of realistic goals and help their children achieve the goals. Parents can teach their children by modeling those behaviors which they expect from their children. This is not limited to the home environment.
Parents can support activities, organizations, and schools that are committed to helping children.
Showing children how to behave can be more influential and have a longer lasting impact than simply telling them. Parents can help their children avoid risky situations. Accountability can be a valuable tool in protecting children and adolescents from risky situations and behaviors. For example, knowing what children are doing and with whom, encouraging children to associate with children around their own age, and encouraging participation in organized, after school activities such as clubs and sports yield accountability and allow parents to facilitate the development of healthy friendships, interests, and interactions. Open communication is essential in helping adolescents postpone sexual involvement.