Talking to your kids about dating can seem like an awkward task to take on. You may not think your kids are even old enough to date, so you might avoid the conversation. Or you believe your teen already knows enough about dating that you don't feel you need to talk about it. Unfortunately, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in 11 teens will be abused by a boyfriend and girlfriend. Thus, talking to your teens about healthy relationships and acceptable dating practices is important for their personal well-being.
Step 1
Start the dialogue about dating before your kids even start dating or considering a relationship. The CDC notes that this will help to prepare them for healthy dating and relationships. If you wait until you notice a problem, or see your child getting too close to someone, it may be too late to make a difference.
Step 2
Wait until you have a casual setting in which to talk about dating. Springing a serious conversation on your kids by making it a formal discussion can make them feel uncomfortable and less likely to share their thoughts and experiences. For best results, wait to start a more casual, informational conversation when you're watching a TV show with a dating theme or driving in the car, for example.
Step 3
Set guidelines and expectations as the parent. If you don't want your child to date until a certain age, give that timeline. You may also lay down rules for acceptable dating practices, like only dating in groups, being home at a certain time and having planned dates, as recommended by FamilyEducation.com. When you set down your expectations, your child cannot claim that he didn't know when he oversteps those boundaries. In some cases, he just might not know what you expect when it comes to dating unless you tell him.
Step 4
Share your own experiences about dating when you were growing up. Humorous stories and cautionary tales can help you relate to your kids by proving that you've been in the same situation. Most kids will love to hear about your dating history and interesting stories about meeting new people.
Step 5
Talk to your kids about abusive relationships and some of the signs to look for. You want to be sure that your kids have good relationship experiences. ChooseRespect.org urges you to indicate to your kids that a good relationship is based on trust, honesty, respect and communication. Point out the warning signs of an abusive relationship, such as jealousy, control or anger. This way your kids are informed and know what to look for when they start dating.
