Educational Media Reviews Online

This film profiles several teenage mothers and fathers and their experience during pregnancy and parenting their babies once they are born. The stories serve to show how hard pregnancy and childrearing are on young mothers and fathers. Most of the teens attend school and work a job in addition to raising their children. Many of them have also been through considerable emotional turmoil as a result of the pregnancy. Some of the teens were abandoned by partners, parents or friends. Others were encouraged toward abortion. All of the teens choose to take responsibility for their actions, and raise their babies. Some of the teens have a relatively easy time creating a family with their partner and new baby; others are left to be single parents. Growing Up Fast provides a very candid look at teenage parents and their circumstances. Recommended for high school students and up. Due to the subject matter, parental permission may be required before showing this film to younger junior high age students.