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.