Have you talked to your teen about healthy relationships?

It's important for this conversation to happen earlier rather than later. Kids and teens today seem to be dating earlier and earlier, and as a parent you have a lot of influence on the relationships they choose to pursue (even if they would never admit it). Thing is, the conversation about healthy vs. unhealthy/abusive relationships will be much more difficult if you wait until you have a notion that your child may be in one. So, don't wait...have the conversation today! 

Too Common

• Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year.

• One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence.

• One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend.

• One quarter of high school girls have been victims of physical or sexual abuse.

• Approximately 70% of college students say they have been sexually coerced. 

What Do I Need to Know?

You can look for some early warning signs of abuse that can help you identify if your child is in an abusive relationship before it’s too late. Some of these signs include:

• Your child’s partner is extremely jealous or possessive.
• You notice unexplained marks or bruises.
• Your child’s partner emails or texts excessively.
• You notice that your son or daughter is depressed or anxious.
• Your son or daughter stops participating in extracurricular activities or other interests.
• Your child stops spending time with other friends and family.
• Your child’s partner abuses other people or animals.
• Your child begins to dress differently.

For more information on teen dating violence/abuse, you can visit the following websites:

http://www.loveisrespect.org


http://www.teendvmonth.org


http://www.breakthecycle.org


http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/teen_dating_violence.html