At Home

During the teen years, youth learn how to make decisions about relationships. Parents and caregivers can have a big influence on teens and their decisions. What teens learn now about how to treat friends, family, and dating partners can affect future relationships.

Parents and caregivers can promote healthy relationships among teens by modeling healthy dating behaviors, communicating openly, and helping teens to understand the possible warning signs of unhealthy dating relationships.

There are steps that you as a parent or caregiver can take at home to help teens build healthy dating relationships and prevent dating violence. The following pages give suggestions for talking with teens and teaching teens about healthy dating relationships.