Talk with your parents before you begin dating.

• Out of respect for your parents and yourself you should always let them know: where you are going, a phone number where you can be reached, who you are going out with, what you will be doing and when you will return.
• Make it a point to be home by curfew.
• Make sure your date does not get home late.
• If you run into trouble and you are going to be late, call and let both sets of parents know.
• Show respect to your date.
• If you are a guy, go to the door to pick up your date and make it a point to meet her family.
• Avoid risky situations where things might happen that you will regret later.
• If you are a girl, make sure you have an emergency plan in place in case your date becomes forceful or violent. The "It won't happen to me," plan is not good enough.
• Consider group dating - the whole point of dating is learning how to develop growing friendships - not about getting sexually involved.
• Don't mistake raging hormones for love. They are two entirely different things.
• What messages do the clothes you are or are not wearing send to your date? Seductive is out, modesty is in.
• Don't date anyone significantly older or younger than yourself. A sixteen-year-old should not be dating a fourteen-year-old. A nineteen-year-old should not be dating a sixteen year old.