Exams are finished, report cards are in and the last bell has rung. Your teen is done with school until the Fall. As a parent, you may have talked to your teen about getting a summer job, taking some additional classes, playing sports, practicing an instrument, going to a camp, or volunteering, but have you spoken with your child about summer romance?
Talking to your teen about romance is important, and yet something we are sometimes reluctant to do. The start of summer is the perfect time to talk to your teen about consent, respect and how to have mutually amazing relationships. Teens will often have more free time to invest in relationships during the summertime, and having a strong foundation for those relationships will be a great starting point.
Share with your teen that they have the right to feel safe and secure in their relationship. Let them know that they have the right to say no to or stop intimacy at any point. Let your teens know that they deserve to have open and honest communication with their potential partners regarding their expectations for the relationship. Also, teach your child about the importance of consent and respect in relationships (for all partners). Most importantly, let your teen know that they can always come to you if they need to talk, and that they can count on you if they need to.
Help your child have a happy and safe summer!
Here are some additional articles on our website for parents:
- “The Slut Reputation Discussion”
- “Abstinence & Consent – Do They Belong Together?”
- “Do Your Kids Ask? Teaching Respect & Healthy Dating”
- “Date Rape, Rape, Sexual Assault, Prevention, Awareness – the words we use”
OR get our Award-Winning DVD “HELP! My Teen Is Dating” right now for your teen.
You can get the digital download here.
You can get the physical copy here.