Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month: Boundaries and Consent

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a national effort to shine a light on dating abuse. Dating violence happens more than we realize. 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before becoming adults. This month is a great time to equip teens with the tools and knowledge to create and maintain healthy relationships built on boundaries and consent.

Discussing Boundaries

Healthy Boundaries

Creating healthy boundaries protects teens from harmful relationships. Some teens may need help understanding what healthy boundaries look like so it’s important for caregivers to discuss the characteristics of healthy relationships and model those behaviors at home. Talking about these topics can also build confidence so teens are able to communicate their boundaries effectively.

Physical Boundaries

In healthy relationships, partners feel safe communicating with each other the things they are comfortable doing. There are no rules dictating what boundaries should be. Boundaries reflect how someone feels personally and may evolve or change over time.

Digital Boundaries

Digital boundaries should be respected in all relationships, including friendships. Love is Respect has questions to ask yourself and others to help develop and communicate what digital boundaries may look like.

Is it okay to tag people in photos? Is it ok to check in places online?
Do we post our relationship status online?
What are the expectations for communicating through text or social media?
It is ok to post about a relationship publicly?

Understanding Healthy Relationships

Love is Respect has created a resource that shows the characteristics of relationships. This graph is a good way to introduce these concepts to youth and can be used as a conversation starter.