How to Keep Your Daughter Safe on that First Date

A first date leaves your daughter pondering what to wear and how to act, while you spend more time worrying about her safety. Teen dating dangers include physical and verbal abuse, sexual assault and stalking. Parents also worry about a teen giving in to peer pressure to drink or have sex. Preparing your daughter for the date and the potential dangers is key to keeping her safe. With your guidance and support, your teen can learn to protect herself without ruining the excitement of her first date.

Things You'll Need

  • Cellphone
  • Cash

Instructions

    • 1

      Set ground rules for dating. Let your daughter know where she is allowed to go on dates, how late she can stay out and who she is allowed to date. For example, you might restrict her potential dates to her own age group so she doesn't feel the pressure from an older boy to have sex or drink. Remind her that drugs and alcohol are not acceptable.

    • 2

      Ask your daughter the details of the date to determine whether it is a safe situation. A date in a public place is a safe choice. Adult supervision is another way to keep your teen safe, especially if she is a young adolescent. A group date gives her safety in numbers, according to HealthyChildren.org. Determine whether she is ready for a solo date based on her maturity level and how responsible she acts.

    • 3

      Role play potentially dangerous situations on a date. Give your daughter a chance to practice saying "No" to peer pressure. Help her come up with responses to situations or things a date might say to pressure her into intimacy or drinking. Practicing these potential situations prepares her to handle them if they actually happen.

    • 4

      Establish a code and check-in system with your teen if she is going on an unsupervised date. For example, have her call you at a certain time to let you know she is still safe. Setting up a code allows her to get out of the date if she feels uncomfortable. You might tell her to call you and say she has a headache and ask if you could pick her up. This gives her an easy exit from a situation that makes her feel uneasy. A code word is also a good safety feature if she feels her date has become violent. Choose a word that she can naturally work into a conversation with you so she doesn't tip off her date.

    • 5

      Meet your daughter's date ahead of time. Invite him over for dinner or to watch a movie before the big date. You get a chance to check him out and evaluate his intentions. Avoid drilling him or turning the meet and greet into an interrogation.

    • 6

      Verify that your daughter has a fully charged cellphone and cash on hand when she leaves for the date. The cellphone allows her to call for help, while the cash makes her self-reliant if her date becomes violent or puts too much pressure on her.

    • 7

      Talk to your daughter about the date afterward. Encourage her to share how she felt and discuss any situations that made her feel uncomfortable. Use this conversation as a way to teach her about dating safety in the future.

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