Tips for talking to a younger child about Jamie Lynn's pregnancy.

We've been getting a lot of comments from Moms concerned about the Jamie Lynn situation and how to explain it to their kids. Yesterday, we gave you pointers on how to discuss this with your teen and tween. But this morning, a mom named Amy sent us the following message:

Great question, Amy. We realize many fans of Zoey 101 are age 6 to 9, so what's the best way to talk about this with them and make sure you're sending the right messages? We called our friend Jessica Sheets, spokesperson for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, for her advice. "Rather than just sitting them down at 12 years old and having 'the talk,' this needs to be an ongoing discussion," Jessica says. If your child is fan of Zoey 101, she adds, this a great (however unwelcome) teachable moment Moms should seize.

THE SCRIPT:
Did you hear about what happened to Jamie Lynn?

If a child answers "yes":
How do you feel about it?
What do your friends think about it?
Do your friends have any special relationships?
What do you think about that?

If the child answers "no":
It looks like she had a relationship with a boy and she ended up getting pregnant. What do you think about that?
Do you have questions about this?
"Try as much as you can to get the child’s perspective," recommends Jessica. "Then, after you hear your child out, you can say, 'I want to know how you feel about it—and here are my feelings on it.' This is a prime opportunity to share your own personal values with your child."

The ultimate goal is to make your child always feel comfortable coming to you. "Your kid will have a million questions over the years," says Jessica. "They can get a lot of information on the Internet, but that’s no substitute for advice and experience from a loving parent."

What if you're worried your child is not ready for this conversation, even at 9 or 10 years old? "Many parents make the mistake of thinking, 'That’s my little baby, he or she is not ready to hear something like that,'" she says. "Even Lynne Spears told OK!: 'Jamie Lynn's never late for her curfew. I was in shock. I mean, this is my 16-year-old baby.' But the fact is, a 16-year-old is not a baby. Neither is a 10-year-old. Remember, they're hearing a lot more than you did about sex when you were their age."

For more pointers from The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, click here.