How to Mentor a Teen Dad

In many ways, parenting is an unparalleled adventure. From changing diapers to picking out a prom dress, parenting is time- and resource-consuming, even in an ideal situation. Teen parents, often with minimal financial resources and insufficient education, enter this challenge with hurdles beyond the norm. Many teen pregnancy programs focus on the mother and her needs, but mentoring the father, while challenging, is also critical to increasing the father's involvement and building strong families.

Instructions

    • 1

      Defuse the notion that the teen father is facing something few others experience successfully. Show him statistics like those from DoSomething.org that show that, every year, some 750,000 men are also involved in teen pregnancies. Help him to see that, with the right help and substantial effort on his part, he can be a successful dad.

    • 2

      Educate your teen about the need for a good education. High school dropout rates are much higher for single fathers than other male teens, according to the Social Science Research Center. If a teen father drops out of school and has trouble finding employment, studies show that he will be more likely to be disinterested in raising his child. Help him by babysitting or arranging a babysitter for him and the mother while in school.

    • 3

      Help him visualize what kind of positive father he can be. If he has a good father, help him to learn to emulate him. If not, point him to good examples of parenting -- including your own example, if applicable.

    • 4

      Address the whole person rather than only focusing on solving problems. Help meet his spiritual, emotional and physical needs, as well as helping him with his family, and teach him to think of the mother's needs in a similar depth.

    • 5

      Help educate him on birth control and self-control so that he does not have more children before he is ready. Social services provide assistance based on financial need, and young parents who have more children receive more aid. Help the father see that he should be "family first" and strive to support his family through employment and education as a way to end the cycle of poverty and provide access to the best life possible for his entire family.

    • 6

      Spend time with him one on one and build a relationship. Help him see his positive traits, assist him in finding a job and be a friend. He is likely overwhelmed by the situation, and you can provide the consistency and nonjudgmental friendship he needs to become a great parent.

    • 7

      Hold him accountable to do the best he can to care for the baby's mother's needs, even in a limited capacity. Teach him how to change diapers, heat formula, bathe the baby and do laundry. Fear of handling or caring for the baby could cause undue anxiety.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Summer Camp Ideas for Kids
      Kids summer camps provide entertaining adventures for children who attend and a vacation for parents who stay home. Summer camps can help kids pursue an interest, learn independence, make friends and participate in new activities. Although summer cam
    • Is Cinnamon Safe for Kids?
      Many parents worry about what they feed their child. Some foods have too much fat, others are high in sugar and still others have no vitamins or minerals. A varied and well-balanced diet is the key to good overall health, growth and development, so b
    • How Do I Deal With a Child With Behavior Problems?
      Patience is key to dealing with any type of behavior disorder. Behavior problems in one child have an impact on every child in the family and are stressful to parents. Children with behavior problems usually struggle with friendships and in school.