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Dating
There is no best age for teens to
begin dating. Every person will be
ready for a dating relationship at a
different time. Different families
may have certain rules about dating
too. When you decide to start a new
dating relationship, it should be
because you care about someone and
not because you feel like you have
to have a boyfriend or girlfriend. A
dating relationship is a special
chance to get to know someone, share
your thoughts and feelings with each
other, and do activities together.
Healthy dating relationships should
start with the same ingredients that
healthy friendships have, such as
good communication, honesty, and
respect. Dating relationships are a
little different because they may
include physical affection, like
hugging, kissing, or holding hands.
As with all relationships, it may be
tempting at first for you to spend
all of your time with your new
partner. But, making special time to
spend together and apart means that
you will be able to work on having a
healthy relationship with the person
you are dating and with other people
in your life, like your friends and
family.
You should NEVER feel pressured to
do something that you don't want to
do. He/She should always respect
your right to say no to anything
that makes you feel uncomfortable.
It is important that you are both
clear with each other about your
values and your limits. By talking
about how each of you feel about a
lot of things, you may avoid getting
into situations where you are
pressured into making a decision on
the spot about something very
important.
Here are some tips for starting a
healthy dating relationship and ways
to stay safe:
Get to know a person by talking on
the phone or at school before you go
out with them for the first time.
Go out with a group of friends to a
public place the first few times you
are spending time together.
Plan fun activities like going to
the movies, a picnic, the mall, a
walk, etc.
Be clear with the other person about
what you feel comfortable doing and
what time your parent(s) or
guardian(s) expect you to be home.
Tell at least one friend and
especially your parent(s) where you
are going, who you will be with, and
how to reach you.
Dating relationships can be a fun
and exciting part of your life now.
They may be a little confusing,
especially if dating is new to you.
Once you know that the person that
you like, likes you too, you may be
unsure of what to do next. You can
start by learning about what makes a
dating relationship healthy. The
most important thing to remember is
staying safe, especially when you
begin to date.
Content Courtesy : www.4girls.gov
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