Tween dating: Not exactly puppy love
Categories: Teens & tweens, Love & sex, Health & safety, Development, In the news
There are reasons that parents don't let their kids date before a certain age, and maturity is one of them. Preteens are often not ready to handle the strong feelings that come with a romantic relationship. They also might not recognize when a good relationship has turned bad.Liz Claiborne and Loveisrespect.org recently sponsored a survey of tweens and young teens, looking for insight into what goes on in these young relationships. The results were alarming. Here's a glimpse:
- One out of five 13 and 14-year-olds responded that they knew a friend who was physically abused by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Half said that they know someone who was verbally abused.
- Nine percent of 11 to 12-year-olds say that their friends have sex.
- Nearly 70% of kids who have sex before they turn 14 experience some kind of abuse.
- Half of all tweens who responded didn't know the warning signs of an abusive relationship.
- Significant numbers of tweens and teens experienced abuse through the use of technology (IMing, texting, etc).
The Washington Post has an older article on the subject, but I think it offers good advice. If you have a tween or teen who's showing interest in dating, these are simple but important steps to keeping them safe.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Miranda 7-13-2008 @ 5:22PM
This is very sad, and your right. A lot of adult relationships are like this so why wouldn't our youth model our message? I think parents need to be talking with there kids and getting themself more involved with their kids lives. I know this is easy for me to say, I have a two year old. My only experience with teenagers is my own teenage years and I was a monster! But still....it's so sad.
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Cortney 7-14-2008 @ 4:16PM
I'm really not surprised about these statistics since so many ADULTS in this world are in abusive, unhealthy relationships. It could be argued that the maturity is even lacking in those cases. I would venture to say, while maturity has a role, it is more about knowledge and the value that you have for yourself.
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gloria 7-19-2008 @ 11:18PM
pertaining to abusive relationships, the same should be asked of adults and you'd get astonishing numbers as well. why would it be any different with younger groups? Abusive relationships are a problem in all age groups. Not just tweens. It's something adults are rarely ready to handle as well.
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Madi Malice 8-04-2008 @ 3:00AM
Wow, this happens more often than I though.
Well, if a guy ever messed with me like that I'd have to hurt him. (I'm a young teenage girl. And, I get into fights at school with guys my age or a year or two older than me and I usually win.)
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