The Teen Dating Game

Discussing relationships is an important part of the sexuality education I teach.  Young people are always eager to discuss the different social norms and expectations.  It is also a topic that most parents approach with trepidtation.  I have just watched this instructional video from 1951 about  "what to do on a date"... 

I viewed this video with a smile on my face, sighs of "how sweet" and thoughts of how lovely and simple things were back then.... Back to reality: there were just as many nerves and broken hearts as there are now.  Teen pregnancy was common, it was just hidden in barbaric ways. Or young people were forced into marriages they didn’t want. Sexually transmitted infections were present, they were just hugely stigmatised and rarely treated.

The risks of heartbreak, pregnancy and disease that were present in 1951 are still there now, but nearly fifty years on, these risks are magnified and that 'benchmark' age when children are exposed to these risks is becoming ever-lower.  The concept of childhood is becoming increasingly short. - in 1951 the marketing concept of 'tween' had not been invented.  The behavioural expectations of late-teens in 1951 are the behavioural expectations being thrust upon our pre-teens now.  

The tween phenomena has children wearing makeup, high-heels and parents taking them along to waxing salons.  They hear it on TV, YouTube and social networking sites. This sexualisation of our children naturally leads to an early curiosity about sex and relationships. 

In order to be prepared for these pressures it is crucial that our young people are able to make safe decisions that will keep them happy and ensure their well-being.  They need their parents support in this. 

More than ever, parents need to have the knowledge and confidence to be able to discuss sexuality and relationships with their children.  Many parents say to me “oh but my child has no interest/no idea/no awareness about anything to do with sexuality.”  This may be true, but their classmates are, and their classmates are talking. I posit it to the parents: if your child is not talking to you, they are talking to someone else and getting their information from them.  What would you prefer? It’s never too early to start this ongoing conversation: make sure you don’t leave it a moment longer.

---