Teen Dating Tips
For Parents Who Worry About Who Their Child is Going Out With
Having a teen who dates can be an exciting time for your child. Being the parent can make you feel worried or stressed. Learn some tips here on how to handle dating.
As a parent, you have a lot you have to worry about. If it is not potty training, then it is teaching your child to read, or how to play well with others. You may think the toddler years are bad, but the worrying never really stops, even as they enter the teen years. Now you have to worry about other things including grades, peer pressure, and the one thing you dread the most, dating.
When your teen starts to date, you may find yourself in constant turmoil. You think about how they behave, who they go out with, and if they will meet curfew. Your teen needs some room to mature without your constant pressure, but you need the peace of mind, too. So, how do you know when to worry about who your teen dates and when to back off? It is hard, but here are some tips that may help.
Meet the Date
This may sound old fashioned and can really make your teen embarrassed, but you do need to take the time to meet your teen’s date before they leave. This is especially helpful if you have never met the other kid before. Meeting him will help ease your fears about age discrepancies or other fears you may have. You may already know the date, and that is a good thing. If you have already met the date, then at least talk to the two of them before they head out and find out their plans for the evening.
Know the Plan
As a parent, you should know the plan for the evening. Find out where they are going and when they will be back. Expect your teen to follow a curfew, and don’t feel bad about checking up on the plan. For example, if your teen says they are going to a 10:00 p.m. movie, call the movie to make sure there really is a showing that late. It is not snooping. It is knowing where your kid is during a date.
Have Contacts
It is also a good idea at this point to make sure your teen is connected. That means having access to a cell phone. Most teens do have cell phones, but enforce a strict rule that your teen should answer any calls from you while on the date. You shouldn’t take advantage of the fact that you can call your teen at any time during a date, but if you need to get a hold of her, then she should answer your call. If your teen is going on a group date, then it is a good idea to know at least some of the other teens going and their parents. This will help you worry less about who your child is with.
Listen to Your Teen
The last bit of advice is something that many parents have trouble with during the teen years. Take the time to really listen to your teen. You may not know everyone that your teen dates, but you can take the time to listen to why your teen wants to go out with him. Instead of lecturing your teen about how you think the other person is too old, does not dress nice, or has an earring in one ear, look at the date from your teen’s perspective. Your child needs an opportunity to express herself, and you may learn a lot by listening. Knowing how your teen feels about the date can help ease your fears as a parent.
