Sue Scheff: Teens, sex and the dictionary

In the same week we hear about the increase of teen pregnancies, we also learn about parents in California wanting "oral sex" removed from the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary. As uncomfortable as some parents are with discussing oral sex, if we don't educate our children, someone else will! And it may not be exactly the way you would like them to learn it.

Recently two articles struck a nerve with many parents that were completely unaware of the teen or even tweens, sex games. Just when you think lipstick is a little spark of beauty and bracelets can be a fun accessory, we learn about the Rainbow and Snap games! You won't find these games in the dictionary - but both offer "oral sex" so you want to be sure YOU are the one talking to your teens about this.

"One of the nation's shining success stories of the past two decades is in danger of unraveling," said Sarah Brown of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. "Clearly, the nation's collective efforts to convince teens to postpone childbearing must be more creative and more intense, and they must begin today." - Washington Post January 26, 2009

As much as we talk to our kids about sex, offer sex education classes and continue to be there for them, this is a subject we need to continue to talk about. Whether it is a word/term in the dictionary or slang on a school bus, encourage your children to come to you to discuss it. If they are uncomfortable speaking with a parent, try to have a close relative or friend they can turn to. Someone you trust.

Remember, an educated parent is a prepared parent which equals safer and healthier teens.

Watch PSA.

The Price is Your Life.

The term "oral sex" remains in the dictionary. For the parents in the California, Menifee Union School District, students will take permission slips home. They also offer alternative dictionaries.

Read more on Examiner.

Sue Scheff: Teen Sex Games - Be an educated parent - SNAP

A very sticky topic, jelly bracelets. Why would these harmless bracelets be dangerous? What is going on in our society to create such disturbing games being played by our teens and tweens?

Since being an educated parent will help you to have healthier and safer teens, you need to be aware of these types of games that are being played. In a previous article, Rainbow Parties, shocked many. This bracelet game, Snap, is another blow to a parents mind.

Some people have may have heard about the latest fad in colleges, high schools, even middle schools! This social phenomenon involves "snapping" the bracelet off the wearer, enabling the snapper to earn a sexual favor from the snappee based on the color of the snapped off bracelet.

Here are the color associations:

• Yellow - wearer is willing to HUG
• Pink - wearer is willing to give a hickey
• Orange - wearer is willing to KISS
• Purple - wearer is willing to kiss a partner of either sex
• Red - wearer is willing to perform a LAP DANCE
• Green - indicates that ORAL SEX can be performed on a girl
• Clear - indicates a willingness to do "whatever the snapper wants"
• Blue - indicates ORAL SEX performed on a guy
• Black - wearer will have regular "missionary" sex
• White - wearer will "FLASH" what they have

Sex bracelets are a teen fad with a dangerous sexual twist. The bright colored bracelets are popular with teens, but they're creating controversy and many children, and even adults, wear these decorative bracelets without any sexual connotation or meaning whatsoever.

Teach your children about the dangers of STD's. We can talk about sex to our kids, some schools offer sex education and we can even "believe" we have a very open relationship with our teens - but do you really know about these trends? Peer pressure can be part of this dangerous game. The more you know, the more you can help to educate your teens.

These topics are not to scare you, they are to educate you. Your child may be wearing one of these bracelets and it has no association to this disgusting game. It is only about you knowing that this does exist - as hard as it can be to believe.

Watch video and read more on Examiner.

Sue Scheff: Rainbow Party - A game or party you don't want your teens to attend!

This is a sensitive subject and many will be appalled and disgusted, however as a parent, it is about being educated. Knowing what can be happening in your neighborhood, in your schools, or even in your own home - is your responsibility as a parent to stay in touch with your children and their lives.

"Rainbow Party" by Paul Ruditis, is written as fiction, however has a powerful message that many will be shocked to hear about. This rainbow party is not about homosexuals coming out, it is about sex and your teens. It is, in fact, an oral-sex party in which each girl wears a different color lipstick. In theory, after the girls perform oral sex on the boys, they would be left with rainbows around their penises.

Many parents have the sex talk with their kids. Many schools offer sex education. There are also many resources, websites and books that can help educate your teens to be better prepared when they do decide to have sex. But have you talked to your teens about the dangers of games/parties such as "Rainbow Parties?"

Questions that may arise and you will need to answer:

• Is oral sex real sex?
• Can you still be a virgin and have oral sex?
• Why is this game dangerous to your child?
• If one guy gives oral sex to another, is he gay?
• How is oral sex fun for girls?
• Why don't boys ever reciprocate the favor?
• What are the symptoms of gonorrhea?
• What is an STD?
• How do you prevent STD's?

Although many would like to simply discard this article and subject, being an educated parent will make you better prepared and lead to safer and healthier teens.

Parents must watch video and read more about this troubling topic.