Dr. Gail Saltz On What To Tell Your Kids About Jamie Lynn

Access Hollywood - December 20, 2007 11:30 AM PST

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (December 20, 2007) - The news of 16-year-old Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy has sent shock waves across America.

Access Hollywood talked to psychiatrist and renowned author, Dr. Gail Saltz, about what you should tell your children who may be asking those difficult questions.

[ Jamie Lynn Spears - View the gallery ]

"We should see this as an opportunity to talk to our kids about our morals, our values and about sex that having sex changes you," Saltz said. "It's emotionally powerful and frankly, there are risks involved. There are sexually transmitted diseases and there is pregnancy."

So at what age should parents bring this kind of issue up?

"You should really have conversations about body and sexuality at a very young age, introducing parts [and] the names of parts," Saltz said. "The reason for this is when you start a dialogue you make yourself a source of information... When you move on to ages of 10 and 11 you want to be talking about what is sexual intercourse, when should you be having sexual intercourse what do we believe as a family."

[ Celebrity Siblings - View the gallery ]

[ How To Talk Sex With Your Teen - Watch the Video ]

Saltz also noted that because of the way the brain develops, parents need to help children out with using judgment.

"The other issue is that the frontal lobe is not fully developed until you are in your early to mid 20s," she said. "This is the part of the brain that houses judgment [and] consequence, so teens are less prepared to think about, 'If I do this today, what will happen to me tomorrow?' You as a parent need to be that alter ego to them be that frontal lobe. Talk to them about the consequences that may face them emotionally and of course physically."

So what would Saltz do if she was advising Spears?

"Unfortunately, 16 is really too young to be a responsible, careful, active, thoughtful parent. I can only say that one hopes her mother steps in and really takes a big leadership position here, because she needs to have an older parent involved who will be able to be responsible."

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comments 1-10 of 32  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • hot mama
    leave her alone yes she should have waited a bit longer but she felt ready to have sex and she did and became pregnant by accident a lot of teens do that older or younger so why is everybody making a bit deal is because she is famous or because she is the sister of a troubled super star leave her alone
    report abuseposted February 24, 2008 12:35 PM PST
  • angelica j
    oh well i think everyone should leave jamie alone :)
    report abuseposted February 22, 2008 9:53 AM PST
  • I ♥ writen words
    And Jaime sure deserves to be stuck up for. If someone actually had confidence in her as a mom perhaps she would be a beter mom. Talking to someone about waiting till matramony won't nessicarily change their mind about it, and Jaimie Lynn is alot better than her mom . if i was jaimie i would never give up my baby to my mom , i mean look how britany turned out. Doctors think they know every
    report abuseposted February 6, 2008 6:35 AM PST
  • 44444
    i think that jamie should give her baby to her mom it would give her a chance to live her life and finish her career but can still be the mother and see the baby when ever she wants. i wonder what she will name it.
    report abuseposted January 31, 2008 8:02 AM PST
  • i think she'll be a very good mom she 's taking parenting classes and getting ready for this baby she's more responsible than Brittany just because she's living with her doesn't mean she'll be her twin or something so just leave her alone and you her this from a 11 year old girl so just buzz off
    report abuseposted January 30, 2008 2:56 PM PST
  • Ashlynn
    Would you people stop acting like this is the end of the world? She's pregnant, and that means she lost her chance to be a kid. And yes, I agree that she brought this on her self, but what can she do about it now? And do you really think that talking bad about her will change this? This is none of our business. She is the one who is having the baby. I swear! Sometimes people are so critica
    report abuseposted January 30, 2008 9:01 AM PST
  • Nkemka O
    I just think Jamie is a retarted freak who needs serious help with parnting.
    report abuseposted January 28, 2008 3:54 PM PST
  • MGREXX
    How about telling little girls the truth for once: Close your legs and stop acting like a bunch of little %@!*#s. You won't get pregnant and be respected for who you are. DUH!!!!
    report abuseposted January 22, 2008 10:09 PM PST
  • __A_YAHOO_USER__
    Doctor's are what have gotten us into this MESS!! Who want's any more advice from them? They have told us HOMO's are good people. They have told us Kids can have sex at any age. Just use a Condom. In the last 30 years, this Country has nearly fallen apart. We have lost ALL SENSE OF MORALITY!! JEEEZZZ!!! And by the way, hello from Iraq. Have a nice day!!
    report abuseposted January 8, 2008 12:58 PM PST
  • nita-bita
    OMG!!! PPL lets get it together. You can teach your kid whatever you want that doesnt mean their going to listen. Everybody wants to go through life making their OWN decisons. I mean she had sex and she's pregnant we cant go back in time. Stop acting like your saints and that your kids are perfect cuz half of these parents dont even knows what going on with their kids..m 16 I know..stop riding her
    report abuseposted January 5, 2008 8:23 PM PST
comments 1-10 of 32  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

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