Love Tips for Teens

When two teens are in love, they sometimes call it "puppy love." But when you find the right person, it could turn out to be more than a simple crush. In fact, according to a 2006 Harris Interactive survey, 2 percent of people in a serious relationship met while young, and 14 percent met in school. If you are a teen in love, there are a few tips that can help you have a successful young relationship while staying grounded in reality.

1. Take It Slowly

   • Enjoy your youth. Don't rush to have a "grown-up" relationship too soon, because this can lead to a host of problems. It takes time and experience to have a healthy, serious relationship. So for now, just date, have fun with your love interest and enjoy your time together. Take plenty of time to thoroughly get to know your partner. You have plenty of time in the future to start thinking about marriage and having kids of your own.

   Start With a Group Date

   • You should go out with a group of people, especially in the case of a first date. This eliminates much of the pressure that can result from going out on a one-on-one date with a new interest. You have support from your girlfriends or guy friends, and in many cases you will have a great time because of the different people in attendance. After a couple of group dates, you'll be more comfortable with your romantic interest. You can then go forward and go on dates---just the two of you---with your parents' permission.

   Prioritize

   • When you're in love, it can be tempting to focus all of your attention on the person you care for, but as a teen you have a number of responsibilities to tend to. These include your schoolwork, after-school job, commitment to your family and extracurricular activities like sports. Don't compromise your participation in these important life tasks for your boyfriend or girlfriend. Remember that you only have one shot at getting good grades in high school and the beginning years of college, but you will have plenty of opportunities to fall in love in your lifetime.

   Talk to Your Parents

   • Whenever possible, talk to your parents about the person you're interested in. Your parents may seem out of touch, but they were teens once too, and they may be able to relate to your feelings. Your parents may have a good idea of what it's like to be in love at a young age, how to make your love interest happy, how to behave on a date, and how you know that this person is special and trustworthy.