Talking with kids about the hard topics -- drinking, drugs, sex, and so forth -- is never easy for parents. I don't know what tact you take with your kids, but I try to just bring the subject up whenever it seems natural. For example, my son saw a commercial for margaritas made with a certain tequila the other day and he asked a question -- it made for a great intro into a discussion about drinking. Talking to kids about sex is just as important. And, according to a recent survey, having your teens voluntarily take a virginity pledge may help some abstain from having sex.

While virginity pledges have been promoted by some churches, schools, and universities for several years, their effectiveness was questionable at best. According to the survey, however, taking the pledge may be helpful for some students. The study found that 34% of youths that took the pledge went on to have sex within three years. 42% of teens who didn't take the pledge become sexually active. It may not be earth-shattering, but 8% is a healthy improvement in this parent's opinion.

The fact of the matter is a lot of kids do have sex. While it's wise to teach our kids about the physical and emotional impacts of sex and the importance of safety, promoting abstinence is by far the healthiest path.