{"id":27209,"date":"2015-02-27T07:00:53","date_gmt":"2015-02-27T15:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=27209"},"modified":"2024-03-05T17:06:21","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T22:06:21","slug":"9-tips-for-talking-to-teens-about-dating-and-relationships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/9-tips-for-talking-to-teens-about-dating-and-relationships-0227157","title":{"rendered":"9 Tips for Talking to Teens about Dating and Relationships"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"It happened. You knew it would, but you didn’t think it would happen so quickly. In spite of any hope you had of slowing down the clock, you woke up one day to find that your child is not so childlike anymore. Suddenly, hormones<\/a> are raging, romantic feelings are developing, and, of course, it doesn’t stop there. Before you know it, your teen may be entering the dating world.<\/p>\n

For many, raising a teenager is the most intimidating chapter of parenthood<\/a>. Discipline becomes increasingly difficult and may feel impossible to maintain. It’s tough to know when to set rules and when to give freedom, when to bend and when to stand firm, when to intervene and when to let live.<\/p>\n

Communication<\/a> is often one of the trickiest minefields to navigate. It’s a struggle to know what to say, when to say it, and how to say it. These conversations and decisions only become more challenging when the time comes for your teen to start dating. As we near the end of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, we want to remind parents how important it is to do their part to help prevent teen dating violence and promote healthy relationships.<\/p>\n

If you are a parent to a blossoming teen, consider discussing these crucial aspects of relationships with your child before he or she enters into a relationship:<\/p>\n

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1. Define a Healthy Relationship<\/h2>\n

Be sure to teach your teen about the foundations of a healthy relationship<\/a>. Explain that a healthy relationship comes from respect, mutual understanding, trust, honesty, communication, and support.<\/p>\n

A relationship should consist of healthy boundaries that are established and respected by both partners equally. A good partner will accept you as you are, support your personal choices, and praise you for your achievements. A healthy relationship also allows both partners to maintain outside interests and friendships, and does not hinder the personal freedom of either partner.<\/p>\n

2. Describe the Different Types of Abuse and Associated Warning Signs<\/h2>\n

There are many different types of abuse<\/a> your teen should be aware of before entering into a relationship. These include physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and digital abuse, as well as stalking.<\/p>\n