New Relationship Advice for Teenagers

For teen couples, the beginning of their relationship can be one of the most exciting times in their lives. That said, it can also be an extremely stressful time, as they try to navigate their new relationship in addition to all of the other things going on in their young lives. Even though most people only think about this sort of thing once they are already in a relationship, it can be helpful to have some advice from experts on what to do and what not to do when you’re just starting out with your partner or even if you’ve been together for awhile.

Know Yourself

If you want a strong relationship, you should be aware of yourself and your actions before you get into one. If you don’t understand who you are and what makes you tick, how can your significant other possibly know? What is important to your growth as a person? These are all questions that will help determine whether or not your relationship has longevity. Knowing yourself first is key to enjoying a healthy relationship with another individual. Focus on building yourself up and then finding someone who loves who you is now rather than what they think they can make you into later.

Communication is Key

Relationship advice for young couples would be pointless if not presented as a cogent and thoughtful dialogue. Communication is key, so talk about each other’s needs and how you can meet them. Use your past experiences to help guide your present decisions, but be sure to listen to what each of you has learned from past relationships. Not all dating disasters have been avoided because they felt it was good advice at one time or another. After listening carefully, make a decision together on how best to move forward with your relationship. Relationship advice that is just based on personal opinion does no one any good; make sure you are communicating in an open and honest way about whatever decisions you both want to make moving forward together.

Building Trust

Relationship advice for young couples often focuses on building trust, which is vital to a healthy partnership. One way to build trust is to be honest about your feelings. In relationships where there is little communication, trust grows slowly. When you’re in a new relationship with someone, it can be difficult to know what they want and need from you. The best thing you can do at that point is express yourself honestly—share how you feel with them, even if it’s difficult or uncomfortable. If they care about you as much as they say they do, then they will want what’s best for you, and probably feel relieved that there are no ulterior motives behind your honesty.

Before Dating Begins

Know When to Say Yes and When to Say No: It’s important that you learn how to express your opinions, thoughts, and feelings from a young age. The only way that teenagers are going to be able to communicate effectively with their partner is if they can communicate effectively in everyday life. Start by saying no when you really mean it, then build up from there.

Trust Your Intuition

Sometimes it can be hard to know how you really feel about a relationship, especially if you’re young and not sure how your emotions compare to others. But, as wise sage Beyoncé Knowles once told us, you better stop playing... cuz baby when I play, nobody wins. Intuition is a powerful force, so rely on it when looking at your relationships. If you have an intuition that something isn’t right with your partner and that nagging feeling in your gut just won’t go away...listen to it! Don’t wait until something major happens or until you have undeniable proof that something needs changing.

Don’t hide from problems

One of the most common relationship mistakes young couples make is sweeping problems under the rug. When these issues are ignored, they tend to grow and get worse over time, often leading to serious fights or even breakups. If you’re in a new relationship, be open about what’s bothering you and don’t assume your partner will read your mind. If a situation is causing friction between you and your partner, it’s always better to talk about it than let it fester. Be honest with each other and allow yourselves to connect on a deeper level by getting any issues out in the open as soon as possible.

Don’t look squeamish

Research shows that when people frown at others—even if they’re wearing a mask—the person being frowned at begins to feel bad. This phenomenon is called facial feedback, and it’s an important tool in strengthening relationships. So if you want to be a good partner, pay attention to your partner’s body language: Make sure she knows you’re paying attention by making eye contact and smile when she does something positive. And remember: You don’t have to judge someone based on what you see. If a friend makes a mistake, give him an encouraging word or pat on the back—but let him learn from his own experience rather than berating him about it.

Be Realistic

A common mistake that many young couples make is to overestimate their relationship’s potential for success. They start out full of optimism, but when life gets in the way, everything falls apart. Be realistic with yourself and your partner about what you can accomplish and how long it will take to get there. Try to have a sense of what’s attainable, because not meeting your goals will set you both up for disappointment later on down the road.

The First Date

Teens are typically in their first relationship, and as such they don’t have a ton of experience. Take things slow. Get to know each other through texting and social media before you even meet up; it will make your first date go more smoothly and reduce awkwardness. Understand that your partner is likely still getting to know themselves, so they may not have their feelings under control yet (or ever). Listen without judgment and give honest feedback without undermining their feelings. And finally, try to be present: If they’re trying to tell you something important, try to actually pay attention instead of scrolling through Instagram or Twitter.

Learn From Mistakes

Whether you’re currently in a relationship or just entering into one, it’s important to remember that your new partner will likely make mistakes (and so will you). That doesn’t mean they aren’t a good person or that their intentions are bad. In fact, we often only realize how much we take others for granted once they stop putting forth an effort. If your relationship is currently going through a rough patch, try to learn from past mistakes and communication issues before addressing them with your partner. You can also help make sure things don't go sour by following these tips to avoid common relationship mistakes.

Respect Yourself And Each Other

For many couples, life is full of distractions. Between work, friends and school, it can be hard to carve out time for just you and your significant other. But being intentional about creating time with your partner can help you strengthen your relationship by reinforcing a foundation of respect. Think about ways that you and your significant other could create space in your busy schedules to spend some quality one-on-one time together – go on a date or take a walk after dinner are two simple examples. Creating small opportunities throughout each week to connect with each other will help build trust and make sure that your relationship stays healthy.

Sex Is Not The Most Important Thing

As important as sex is, it’s not necessarily the most important thing when you first start dating someone. If you have only recently started dating your crush and feel things are going very well, try to avoid jumping into bed with them right away. While it might seem like a good idea to get physical early on in your relationship, doing so might make it harder to really connect with each other. Instead of focusing solely on sex, try spending more time getting to know each other. Take things slowly and allow yourselves to enjoy each other without having pressure from outside forces (such as society) pushing you into doing things that you aren’t ready for just yet.

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff

Relationships are difficult, especially when you’re still new at it. It can be easy to put a relationship on a pedestal or judge it in comparison to others. Instead of focusing on what your relationship isn’t—or how it could be better—focus on all of the small things that make your relationship great. If you feel like things are slipping away from you, don’t panic. Instead, put a lot of energy into paying attention to each other and making sure your partner knows just how special they are in your life.

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