Summary
Relationships come in all shapes and sizes, and the goal is to have healthy ones. To achieve healthy romantic relationships, it’s important to know what goes into a healthy relationship as well as how to recognise when a relationship isn’t healthy. Read more to find out all about how to help ensure your relationships are safe, healthy and full of joy!
We all have different kinds of relationships from very early in our lives.
Types of relationships
Often, we have relationships with our parents or guardians, our siblings, step-siblings or foster siblings, our cousins, aunts, uncles, neighbours and friends. These are family or friendship relationships. When people get a little older, they may want to have other kinds of relationships too. Teenagers may want to date a person they like and to have a romantic relationship with them as boyfriend or girlfriend, for example.
Dating
Having a romantic relationship with another person you like can be lots of fun. When you’re dating someone you might:
Talk: Get to know each other better by talking face-to-face, on the phone, by text, or online
Spend time: Spend extra time with that person
Do activities: Do activities together, like going to the cinema
You might also like to hug, hold hands or kiss. It all depends on what you both feel comfortable doing. It’s important that you only start dating when you feel you are ready to and you’re the only person who knows when that is!
Before you think about starting a romantic relationship with someone, make sure you:
- Like yourself and are comfortable and happy being you
- Know your own likes and dislikes and what you would like or dislike in a partner
- Actually like the person – you’re not just dating them because all of your friends are dating, or because you want to have any partner at all
- Think about what you are happy and comfortable with doing in a relationship. This includes knowing what you are and aren’t ready for when it comes to having a more physical relationship
- Talk to your parents or carers about how you want to date this person. Trying to keep romantic relationships secret can make things very difficult. If you are open, your parents or carers can give you support if you need it
Respect
The most important part of any relationship is respect.
Having a respectful relationship allows both people to feel accepted, liked and safe. Signs of respect in a romantic relationship are:
- Both people are free to express their opinions and beliefs and to be themselves
- Both people can talk about their needs and what they like and don’t like doing
- There’s no pressure to do anything either person isn’t comfortable doing
- There’s no pressure to be with the other person all the time
- Both people can make mistakes, admit they were wrong and apologise
It’s important to remember:
- Always treat yourself with respect
- Show respect to other people
- If someone is not treating you with respect, let them know. Tell them how you would like to be treated
- If you do not feel you are being respected, you can talk to a trusted adult
- It’s always ok to end a relationship if you feel it is not respectful
Healthy and unhealthy relationships
Romantic relationships can be fun when you both like each other and get on well. It can be confusing, however, if you like someone but don’t like how they treat you or make you feel.
It’s important to pay attention if things don’t feel right in a relationship. If you find that your feelings have changed and you want to end a relationship, support is available. It might help to talk to an adult you trust and make the right decision for you.
Some things that happen in a healthy relationship are:
Time together: You enjoy spending time together
Your own interests: You can spend time apart and have your own hobbies and interests
Trust: You trust and respect each other
Expression: Each person feels comfortable expressing themselves
Some signs of an unhealthy relationship
- You feel under pressure to change who you are – your beliefs, opinions, likes, dislikes, hobbies, or even who you hang out with
- You don’t feel free to spend time away from the other person
- The person you are dating lies to you, or doesn’t tell you things
- The person you are dating pushes you to do things that you don’t want to do – this can include putting pressure on you to send them pictures of parts of your body or to do things with them
Support is available
If you would like support around your relationships, you have a right to get support.
Is there a trusted adult you can talk to about how you feel? Childline is always here to listen to you and support you.
Key takeaways
- Relationships should be safe places where everybody feels respected, loved, and cared for.
- It’s important to learn to recognise the signs of both healthy and unhealthy relationships.
- Respect is the most important element of every relationship.
- It’s better to be open about your relationship with your parents or carers so that you can get their support if you need it.
- Before getting into a relationship, it’s so important to make sure you Like yourself and are comfortable and happy being you
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