#TDVAM 2022 As a Parent, what do you need to know?
#TDVAM2022 #TalkAboutIt
Parenting your 12 – 17 year old, i.e. adolescence, is one of the most challenging phases of parenting.
What is teen dating abuse?
Teen dating abuse describes actual or threatened acts of physical, sexual, psychological, and verbal harm by a partner, boyfriend, girlfriend or someone wanting a romantic relationship. It includes violence between two young people in a current or former relationship and can occur among heterosexual or same-gender couples. It can also include using the internet, social networking sites, cell phones, or text messaging to harass, pressure, or victimize.
Two questions you may be asking yourself –
What are the warning signs I should be looking for?
How do I talk to my tween/teen about dating violence?
Dating violence is more common than people think, especially among teens and young adults: 1 in 3 teens in the US will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before they become adults.
In all likelihood, your young teen is experiencing a whole lot of emotional, psychological and physical changes.
Know the warning signs – how do you know if your teen is in an unhealthy relationship? Knowing what’s happening in your tween or teen’s life and relationships can be very challenging. The use of technology makes this even harder.
Your child may also not be able to recognize that they are even in an unhealthy relationship. They rely on their friends for advice, but they need you too! You can help your teen decide if the relationship is healthy or not.
Check out this Quiz: A Healthy or Unhealthy Relationship? from @futureswithoutviolence!
Get help – if you think your teen is in an unhealthy or abusive relationship. If your teen isn’t ready to talk to you about his or her relationship, let him or her know there are confidential resources like FCR with trained individuals available to answer questions and help avoid unhealthy relationships.
Call us at 508-583-6498.
Additional resources: https://www.loveisrespect.org/
https://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/talk-teens-teen-dating-violence/
National Domestic Violence Hotline
800-799-SAFE (7233)
800-787-3224 TTY
www.ndvh.org
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) Hotline
800-656-HOPE (4673)
www.rainn.org