Using parenting skills to deal with teenage dating

As a child enters his or her teenage years, some fathers may fear the inevitable situation of watching their offspring get introduced into the dating world.

While it may be easy to feel upset or experience an increased amount of worry during this process, fathers should be reminded to keep a calm head and to keep the lines of communication open between him and his teenage child.

One way to start a healthy conversation about relationships is for fathers to stay informed on who their son or daughter is hanging out with or talking about from school.

Avoid asking too many questions or ones that may appear judgmental. Teenagers can be highly sensitive and a certain comment or tone can be taken the wrong way.

Try open-ended questions like asking what the person is like or how the two of them met. This will help a father be more involved and may lessen the apprehension when their teenager informs them of a date on a Friday night.

When this happens, fathers should feel free to use their parenting skills to inform their children about dating safety and to not be afraid to speak up if something feels off or strange.

One way to help a teenager relate to his aspect is to have an open conversation about the recent incident involving pop singers Chris Brown and Rihanna. Again, avoid passing judgment with regard to the situation and instead ask what the teenager thinks about it.

Finally, concerning the dreaded sex discussion, fathers should not shy away from such topics and should plan on having several talks instead of just one, which is what some parents typically did in the past.

This is about personal safety for the teenager and should be handled with respect and care. For fathers who have developed a healthy, open relationship with his children, being honest is perhaps the best way to build on their trust.