Dating 101 for Teens

Is your teen starting to date or talking about dating?  Are you feeling a little overwhelmed at the thought of it?  Check out our useful tips on Teen Dating (Click HERE).  These tips will help you onto the right path. 

For a list of books and helpful web sites, visit our Resources page.

Also, make sure to check out the Parent-Teen Dating Contract (Click HERE)

For More Information on Dating 101 for Teens (15-17),

Please Contact:

Stephanie M. Brown, MBA
Community Relations Specialist
Family Resources, Inc.
Phone: 727-528-5831
Fax: 727-521-5210
sbrown@family-resources.org

Below, teens learn a bit more about the very serious game of dating when the You&Me.WE team offered Dating 101 for teens 15 - 17 years old. Topics included boundaries, what love IS and IS NOT, how to break up, friendship and healthy ways of "hooking up." 

A St. Petersburg Times article about Teen Dating 101

What's to like? Teens tell all

By Waveney Ann Moore, Times Staff Writer

Published Friday, August 14, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG — They didn't hold back on their likes and dislikes about the opposite sex. The teenage girls said they were attracted to educated, considerate boys of at least 6 feet 1. The boys wanted girls with "booty" and no crusty lips or "stank" breath.

They were discussing relationships in a controlled setting, Dating 101, as presented by the Family Resources program, You&Me.WE. Close to 50 teenagers from across Pinellas County showed up for the workshop last week at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg.

Marcia Terry, 17, a student at Dunedin High, said she learned how to make better choices. "They said, if I can choose a good friend, then I could choose a good partner for me.''

For Cody Dials, a 15-year-old St. Petersburg High School student, the exercise was practical. "We got to learn about what girls like about us and didn't like about us,'' he said.

Advertised as a workshop to teach teens healthy ways to hook up, how to know true love and even how to break up, the two-day program began by defining the attributes of true friendship and including discussions about values, conflict, boundaries, safety in relationships and marriage. It was the first time the workshop had been offered outside the Pinellas County School system and juvenile justice system, said Julia Penner-Zook, one of the You&Me.WE relationship coaches who also present workshops for adults.

The juvenile justice workshops focus on teenage boys, she said. "With them, we do a lot of work about healthy relationships, not only male-female relationships, but also assertiveness, boundaries and healthy communication. We do a lot of communication skills with them.''

Wednesday morning, giggles and discussion filled the room as separate groups of girls and boys tried to define their likes and dislikes about the opposite sex. Since girls outnumbered boys, the boys collaborated as one group. They came up with a list that said they liked girls who are independent, don't have kids, have brown eyes, curves and "physique." They also like girls who are independent and supportive. What didn't they like? Girls who are stuck-up, gold diggers or chubby — that got murmurs of derision from the girls — are stupid or have poor hygiene.

Among the girls' dislikes were guys who are cocky, dramatic, liars, dumb, MySpace freaks, sex addicts, have "stank" feet or chest hair and wear pants "all the way down to their knees." They also didn't like short, ugly boys. They said they want boys who believe in God, are romantic, athletic, good listeners, have good taste in music, are educated and not abusive. Oh, having a car is a plus — with a license.

Penner-Zook listened attentively. "I think it's good for them to hear from the opposite sex in a controlled environment. It puts them at ease to speak about it in a guided and healthy environment,'' she said.

Fifteen-year-old Melissa Sanchez was glad she attended. "I learned from the class what love is and what it isn't,'' said Melissa, who recently broke up with her boyfriend.

"It was awesome,'' said Julia Brown, 16, a student at Tarpon Springs High School. "It was really cool. I learned I can look for a lot of different things out there," she said. "You just don't want imitation love, and you want genuine love.''

Waveney Ann Moore can be reached at wmoore@sptimes.com or (727) 892-2283.