"A boy that I like kissed me at the dance... Are we dating now?” There is no best age for teens to begin dating. Every person will be ready for a dating relationship at a different time. Different families may have certain rules about dating too. When you decide to start a new dating relationship, it should be because you care about someone and not because you feel like you have to have a boyfriend or girlfriend. A dating relationship is a special chance to get to know someone, share your thoughts and feelings with each other, and do activities together. 

Healthy dating relationships should start with the same ingredients that healthy friendships have, such as good communication, honesty, and respect.

Dating relationships are a little different because they may include physical affection, like hugging, kissing, or holding hands. As with all relationships, it may be tempting at first for you to spend all of your time with your new boyfriend or girlfriend.

But, making special time to spend together and apart means that you will be able to work on having a healthy relationship with the person you are dating and with other people in your life, like your friends and family.  

You should NEVER feel pressured to do something that you don’t want to do. He/She should always respect your right to say no to anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. It is important that you are both clear with each other about your values and your limits.

By talking about how each of you feel about a lot of things, you may avoid getting into situations where you are pressured into making a decision on the spot about something very important.

Dating relationships can be a fun and exciting part of your life now. The most important thing to remember is staying safe, especially when you begin to date.

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