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Download Discussion Guide Episode 106 Here.

SUMMARY

The teen couples are taking care of the elderly now, but in many ways the elderly are taking care of them too. Some of the senior citizens need a lot of assistance - with tasks like showering and with health-related issues. But all of them have life lessons to share with the teen couples.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR TEENS

• When the senior citizens first arrived what did you think it would be like for the teens to care for them? Did it turn out differently than you expected? How so?
• Many of the teens opened up to the senior citizens - confiding in them, asking for advice. Did that surprise you? Why do you think it played out like that? Do most teens have an older person in their life to talk to this way? Do you?
• At the end of the episode there are updates about each of the teen couples. Were you surprised by who was still together and who had broken up? Which couple surprised you the most? Do you think this experiment caused or expedited the break ups or do you think it would have happened that way regardless? Name three specific things that you think most of the teen couples learned about each other because of this experiment.
• At the beginning of the episode Gene says that he thinks this experiment of "living life in fast forward" is "brilliant." Do you agree? Would you go through something like this? Do you know any teen couples who could benefit from it? Why do you think the parents of the children involved volunteered for this? Why do you think the elderly signed up?
• Of all the experiences in this experiment - the babies, the toddlers, the pre-teens, the teenagers, the elderly, themselves - which do you think was the easiest for each couple? Which was the most difficult? What were the important lessons you learned from each one?
• Imagine you could tell each teen couple one thing they did really well, and one thing they did badly. What would those things be? Why?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS

• At the end of the episode Kelsey says that Sean was right and they're not ready to have a baby. Do you think any of the teens involved in this experiment are ready to be parents? Do you know any teens who think they're ready for parenthood? Did this show give you any ideas about how to better explain the real adult responsibilities that go along with sex, relationships and pregnancy?
• The teen couples had a lot of questions for the senior citizens - about how you know when you've found the right person, how to stay together for a long time, how to work out differences and problems. Are your teens comfortable talking with you about these things? What are some ways to let your teens know they can ask you about these topics, and that you can share your values with them? Can you think of a time when your teen wanted to talk with you about these subjects but you may not have reacted well?
• Which of the episodes was your favorite and why? Which couple had the strongest relationship in your opinion? Which couple was the most frustrating? Do the couples in the show remind you of any couples you know if real life? Any of your child's friends? Ask your teen to tell you which relationship they felt was the healthiest and why.

KEY FACTS

Three important things teens wish their parents knew:

• Just because I have questions, don't assume I'm already doing it.
• Pay attention to me before I get into trouble.
• We hate "the talk" as much as you do. But we need to hear from you, starting early and in a way that is appropriate for us as we grow older.

Ten things teenagers want to know:

• How do I know if I'm in love?
• Will sex bring me closer to my girlfriend/boyfriend?
• How will I know when I'm ready to have sex?
• Will having sex make me popular?
• How do I tell my boyfriend that I don't want to have sex without losing him or hurting his feelings?
• How do I manage pressure to have sex?
• How does contraception work?
• Are some methods better than others?
• Are they safe?
• Can you get pregnant the first time?

HELPFUL RESOURCES

For free tips, guides and resources for parents, visit TheNationalCampaign.org and look for our Parent Portal.

Amy Kramer
Senior Manager, Media Program
Tel: 202.478.8517
Email: akramer@thenc.org

Marisa Nightingale
Senior Director, Media Programs and Youth Initiatives
Tel: 202.478.8521
Email: mnightingale@thenc.org

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