According to WebMD, a July 2008 report from the U.S. government shows a slight increase in the teenage pregnancy rate for the first time since 1991. In 2005, 21 of every 1,000 teenage girls in the U.S. became pregnant. In 2006, that number edged up to 22 per 1,000.

Also this month, Newsweek magazine presented an article questioning how Hollywood is presenting teenage motherhood, calling teen moms and their babies “a hot plot device.” Newsweek reported that OK! magazine paid $1 million for the rights to publish photographs of 17-year-old mom Jamie Lynn Spears (star of Nickelodeon’s popular kid show “Zoey 101″) with her newborn baby, Maddie. The cover of the magazine quotes Spears as saying, “Being a mom is the best feeling in the world.”

Entertainment programs, websites, and magazines devote entire spreads to young, unwed, pregnant starlets and their glamorous “baby bumps.” Designer diaper bags, celebrity-inspired maternity wear, and elaborate nurseries have mesmerized pop culture fans. Hollywood shows that the family-making process begins with pregnancy - planned or surprise - and perhaps, one day, will lead to marriage between the parents, or not.

Time magazine broke the news last month about a group of 17 high-school girls in Gloucester, Mass., who were suspected of making a “pregnancy pact.” The alleged agreement was that the girls - all 16 years old or younger - would get pregnant at the same time and raise their babies together. One teen reportedly became pregnant by a 24-year-old homeless man. The babies, the story reports, would love the girls unconditionally - a storyline made hugely popular by the recent blockbuster movie “Juno.” But any teenage girl who has faced an unplanned pregnancy knows that the experience is anything but glamorous.

As parents, we have a responsibility to teach our kids about family values, the consequences of premarital sex, and the dangers of unprotected sex. Kids will listen to somebody, so speak up and make sure your voice is louder than Hollywood’s.

Read more:

Chat about sex with your teen
Talking to a pre-teen about sex
I’m pregnant at age 16…

Finding the right babysitter for your family is often challenging. Many kids prefer teenage babysitters because they’re young, energetic, and fun; and parents appreciate the convenience and affordability of hiring teenagers. Before you hire anyone to watch over your precious children, ask a few questions to make sure the arrangement will work for everyone involved:

Focus on the sitter’s experience and childcare skills, including special training: Do you have younger brothers or sisters or other children that you babysit? How old are they? Have you completed babysitter training, first aid, or CPR courses? Do you know what to do in case of an emergency?

Find out a little more about the person who will be alone with and responsible for your kids: What do you like best about babysitting and being with kids? What do you like least? What kinds of activities do you enjoy doing with children? What was the most difficult babysitting situation you encountered, and how did you handle it?

Cover the basics: What do you charge per hour? When are you available to babysit? Do you need transportation to/from our home?

Arrange for your sitter to meet and interact with your children. Consider having him or her babysit in your home a few times while you are there. Discuss expectations and house rules. Once you’ve settled on a good babysitter, continue to check with her (and with the kids) on how things are going.

For more tips on finding a good sitter:

The top 10 tips on hiring a babysitter
How much to pay a babysitter
Choosing a teenage babysitter

Is your teen in real trouble or is she just being a teen? Rebellious. Uncommunicative. Sullen. According to Mark Burdick, a psychologist and educational consultant, these words desribe your typical teenager. But other behaviors can signal a more serious problem.

Dr. Burdick notes that certain actions or non-actions may indicate that your child is out of control and in need of help. Dr. Burdick cautions parents to watch for the follwing things:

• A decline in personal hygiene
• Loss of interest in usual activities
• A completely new set of friends

If parents notice these behaviors or other troubling signs, it might be time to get help. Dr. Burdick suggests that when you can no longer effectively parent, you need to turn to experts like therapists doctors and other professionals who can get you the help you need. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need to get your teen back from the brink.

Have you thought about asking the teenager down the street if she’d be interested in babysitting for an hour or two but just aren’t sure if you should? She seems like a good kid, but appearances can be deceiving…

Many teenagers make fantastic babysitters but you definitely need to make sure it’s a good fit for everybody involved. If the teenager does express interest in babysitting for you, ask her to come over for a little chat and throw some of these questions her way.

• Do you babysit for younger siblings or other children? What are their ages?
• How often do you babysit and for what lengths of time?
• Have you had any babysitter training (First Aid, CPR, etc)?
• How are your school grades? What activities do you participate in?
• What do you like best about babysitting? What do you like least?
• Have you ever had to deal with an emergency? How did/would you handle one?
• What are your expectations of the people for whom you babysit?

It’s a good idea to have the teenager come to your house and even meet your child. See how she interacts with your child and how she handles herself. You’ll be surprised how quickly you get a “gut feeling” about the young person and generally, you’ll know within a matter of minutes if you’d trust this teenager to take good care of your child. Finding the right babysitter is very important and knowing you have the right person with your child when you’re not there is very comforting as well.