Teen Dating
Dating relationships can be a fun and exciting part of your life. They can also be confusing, especially if dating is new to you. Once you know that the person you like also likes you, you may not know what to do next. You can start by learning about what makes a dating relationship healthy and safe.
When do teens start dating?
There is no best age for teens to start dating. Every person will be ready for a dating relationship at a different time. Different families may have their own rules about dating, too. When a teen decides to start a dating relationship, it should be because he or she cares about someone and not because other people are dating. A dating relationship is a special chance to get to know someone, and it should happen only when the teen is really ready and his or her parents or guardians are OK with it.
What is a healthy dating relationship?
Healthy dating relationships should start with the same things that healthy friendships start with: good communication, honesty, and respect. Dating relationships are a little different because they may include physical ways of showing you care, like hugging, kissing, or holding hands. Teens may find themselves wanting to spend all of their time with their crush, but it is important to spend some time apart, too. This will let teens have a healthy relationship with their crush and with their friends and family at the same time.
Why should a teen date someone close to his or her age?
It may not seem like a big deal to date someone more than 2 years older, but it can be. It's possible that someone older than a teen might want a more physical relationship than he or she does.
What if a teen feels pressured to do something he or she does not want to do?
A teen should NEVER feel pressured to do something that he or she doesn't want to do. His or her crush should ALWAYS respect the right to say no to anything that doesn't feel right. Teens should talk to their crush ahead of time about what they will and will not do.
Tips for Having Healthy and Safe Relationships
- Get to know a person by talking on the phone or at school before going out for the first time.
- Go out with a group of friends to a public place the first few dates.
- Plan fun activities like going to the movies, the mall, on a picnic, or for a walk.
- Teens should tell the other person what they feel OK doing. They should also tell the person what time their parents or guardians want them to be home.
- Teens should tell at least one friend and their parents or guardians whom they are going out with and where they are going. They should also tell someone how they can be reached.
Communication, trust, and respect are key to healthy relationships. Healthy relationships make you feel good about who YOU are and SAFE with the other person. Feel good about yourself and get to know what makes you happy. The more you love yourself, the easier it will be to find healthy relationships.
Girlshealth.gov. (Updated 2014, April 9). Dating. Retrieved November 9, 2016, from http://www.girlshealth.gov/