For Parents:
Talking with teenagers about relationships can be difficult. Here are some tips that may help you connect with your teen:

1. Be a good role model. Your child learns as much from your actions as from your words. If you are in a healthy relationship with your partner, your child will learn by example.

2. The good and the bad. Talk to your child about the warning signs of abuse as well as the qualities of healthy relationships. See those sections of this website for more information.

3. Create an open environment. Be open to all questions your child asks. Don't criticize, judge or jump to conclusions when they ask questions about relationships. Encourage them to talk to you any time, and when they do, give them your undivided attention.

4. Talk frequently. You will surely have better luck with brief yet insightful conversations rather than long drawn out lectures. Look for openings to talk about healthy relationships. For example, some of your child's favorite TV shows may present great openers for conversation about this topic.

5. Eat dinner together. With sports, meetings and other activities, it may feel impossible to all sit down together, but a regular dinner time really does strengthen a family. When you eat together, minimize distractions by making sure the TV and stereo are off; let the answering machine pick up the phone until dinner is over.

6. The art of compromise. Teach your child about compromise and negotiation. Give real life examples, and when either presents itself in a family situation, make sure to point it out.

7. Share your standards. Talk to your kids about your expectations of how you expect them to treat others and be treated in all relationships. Give clear examples of what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Emphasize respect.

8. Be realistic. Teenagers often have a very rosy picture of romantic relationships. Let them know that every relationship has ups and downs. Talk about effective ways of dealing with conflict, such as negotiation, compromise, problem solving and open communication.

For Teachers:
There are several things educators can do to help create an environment at school where relationship abuse is not tolerated. Here are some ideas:
1. Teach about relationship abuse.
~Use this site or a hard copy of Take Care as a teaching aid.
~Have students read parts of Take Care and then facilitate a class discussion.

2. Start a peer education program on teen dating violence.

3. Create bulletin boards in the school cafeteria or classroom to raise awareness.

4. Organize a class project for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October).

5. Encourage the school to purchase books about healthy relationships and the cycle of violence for the school library.

6. Do not condone, allow or tolerate sexual harassment in your school. Speak out against harassment and when you see it occurring, do what you can to make it STOP. Support the victim and check with her or him regularly to see if the harassment has ended.