Teenage Dating Does Not Mean Having Sex

This may appear a strange thing to say but a lot of parents do not recognize how vital it is to teach teenagers that dating and sex are not one and the same. Unfortunately many teens merely assume that sex is a normal part of dating and a quick look at television and magazines aimed at teenagers gives a clear idea of why this is the case. Do not simply assume that your children understand the difference between dating and sex and ensure that you clearly communicate this message to them.

Make sure that you teach your children the ins and outs of dating and sex from a young age and bolster this message often. In particular, help your teenagers to understand that dating means getting to know the other person emotionally and not simply physically.

Teenagers will often have a 'one track mind' and you will need to put forward suggestion on other things that they can do on a date rather than just focusing their minds on having sex. This might appear silly but you will be amazed at how often teenagers turn to sex as an option just out of boredom and cannot think of anything else to do with their time. So, as crazy as it might appear you really will need to suggest things that your teens can do to enjoy themselves on a date. If you can succeed in getting them to stay busy enough then they will almost certainly have to say no less often.

Several parents teach their children how to say no to sex and equip them with a long list of excuses or one-liners. The is all well and good but an excuse normally only works once and simply brushing off the idea with an excuse is simply putting the question off and leaving the door open for the idea to come up time and again. The solution therefore is to instruct your child to simply say no sternly and clearly and that, while they might wish to give a reason, they should not have to do so and simply saying no should be enough.

Should you find yourself in the position in which a teen has already had sex then you could believe that it is too late to teach them to say no. This is unquestionably not the case. A lot of teens feel that once they have had sex once they cannot really refuse to do so again. The mere fact that they have experimented with sex does not mean that this issue can simply be 'crossed off' their development list and you must make it clear that they they are free to say no to sex if they feel uncomfortable. You should also talk to them about the fact that engaging in sex should always be something important and special and that a lot of myth surrounds the significance of their first sexual experience.

While you are discussing the importance of establishing relationships that are based upon a lot more than just sex, it is also vital to combine this with teaching your children about safe sex. However much you may wish to do so you cannot always prevent your children from engaging in sex. However, you can provide yourself with some peace of mind by attempting to ensure that your teenagers remain safe, even when they choose not to avail themselves of your advice to stand stand their ground and make sensible choices.