Many of the resources shared in this article were found in the ComPsych Guidance Resources portal. To explore these and other resources, create an account.
The moment we find out we will become parents, a natural sense of concern settles in. Our little one’s safety and wellness become our main and constant priority. This new reality will remain regardless of the child's age.
We will face unique safety issues at each developmental stage. From childproofing the house to using sports protective gear to safely dating, parents must provide younger ones with the needed tools.
Ideally, from the very beginning, parents will create, develop, and maintain open and clear communication with their children. The content and the approach of conversation topics will grow steadily, scaffolding from the simpler ones to the most difficult ones.
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Listening to our hearts instead of our heads during dating is not unusual. This is doubly true for teenagers because their brains are still developing. Their frontal lobe's lack of full connectivity contributes to greater risk-taking behavior and less analytical approaches.
Always encourage your child to follow these basic safety rules:
- Listen to their instincts even if what they feel does not make sense.
- Avoid putting themselves at risk by avoiding solitary places and always letting someone else know where they will be.
- Do not drink anything they did not order or had lost sight of for a second.
- Encourage them to share any concerns or doubts with you or any trusted adult. Always remain calm and control your reactions to avoid discouraging them from continuing to share.
Communicating with teenagers is difficult; sometimes, parents prefer sharing written information to talking about certain topics. ComPsych, the corporation that provides employee assistance programs to university employees, has good written resources on this topic:
- Strategies for Dating Safely
- What are some tips for staying safe on a date?
- Dating and Your Teenager
If you would like to explore additional ways to support your children and all the children in your community, visit DatingMatters® on the CDC website or youth.gov.