PARENTS who pay close attention to the development of their children will realise that at the tender ages of 15 -17, teenagers are not ready for sex. During the transitional period from childhood to adulthood, what teens really need is support from adults who can give them a sense of direction and help them to focus on becoming productive citizens. Without this support and with the onset of changing hormones, many young people find themselves embroiled in sexual relationships for which they are ill-equipped — mentally, emotionally or socially.

Young people go through different stages of development and during adolescence, their view of the world can be somewhat irrational. They are still learning a range of things on several levels including how to cope with their emotions and other experiences they are having on a day-to-day basis. Indulging in sexual activity can only complicate their lives and affect their thoughts and potential outlook at this ‘sensitive’ stage of their development.

Such activity is best left for a later point in time, when they are able to make the choice to have sex based on appropriate factors other than simply the age of consent.
In Guyana the legal age for sexual consent is 16 but this does not mean that young people are ready to commence sexual relationships at this age. It simply means that at 16 a child is legally allowed to make that choice. Unfortunately, many young people fall into the trap of being groomed, encouraged or beguiled by adults into having sex based on the age of consent. This is unfair, because children are not aware of the many consequences that go along with embarking on sexual activity at a young age.

Some of the consequences are emotional and others can be physical and affect their health and sense of well-being for a life time. That is why the grooming of children for sexual activity is an offence in the Sexual Offences Act 2010.
A healthy way for adults to look at ‘teenagers and sexual activity’ is to accept that they will be curious. Their bodies are changing and they are indeed becoming sexual beings both mentally and physically. Sex is a natural part of our existence and in a perfect world, it would only take place between two consenting adults who have vowed to spend the rest of their lives together.

But this is not a perfect world and children are learning about sex very early on in their childhoods. Many parents will be amazed to learn what their children actually know about sex and the things they have witnessed and/or observed should they care to share their information. Therefore, parents need to be open and to guide young adults through their adolescent years with positive and sensible information: for example, sexual activity should be delayed for as long as possible.

This does not mean that parents should confine all teenagers to their rooms or tell them to ‘study their book’ and not allow them to mix with the opposite sex. It means that parents need to speak openly about sexual activity with their teens and together they should understand the reasons why sexual activity, though natural, is not essential in the growth or development of young people.

Once children understand that there is much more to life that they can attain while young, they will aim for more beneficial goals. But the guidance and input from parents play a vital role in the choices that young people will make: this is why parents need to play close attention to the development of their children.

Adults who have good relationships with their adolescent children can guide them with meaningful conversations, so they stay focused on achieving goals while young and fresh instead of entering the world of sexual activity and in some cases, parenthood.
If you are concerned about a child you can ring the CPA hotline 227 0979 or email chilcaregy@gmail.com

A Message from the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ministry of Social Protection