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.

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California's State Board of Education has determined that students as young as fifth grade should learn about sexually transmitted diseases. The decision is timely, as recent reports have stated that as many as one in four teenage girls has an STD. But the decision wasn't rash, the Board of Education has held discussions regarding sex education standards for two years.

The new standards will present important information and teach the skills necessary to practice safe sexual behavior. Abstinence will be included in the curriculum, but California state law prevents abstinence only sexual education. The sex ed classes will be integrated into existing health classes.

What do you think?

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A new study released recently concluded that students who took part in sexual abstinence programs were just as likely to have sex as those who did not.

In other words, abstinence programs are not working as intended, althought the Bush administration didn't want parent to become concerned on these results.

Students who participated in abstinence programs also first had sex at about the same age as other students - 14.9 years. This brings up the question -- what works to keep kids from sex at all? One thing is for sure here -- the federal government now spends about $176 million annually on abstinence education, which critics say is not workng. This new study gives them more ammunition.

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