Parent Support

There are ways you can support your child.

Supporting Your Child

Identifying abuse in your child’s life can be difficult. Often, a teen in an abusive relationship will hide the abuse from his or her parents. It is important to show respect and support for your teenager, allowing for a trusting environment and open communication.

Signs Your Child May Be in an Abusive Relationship

Depression or anxiety.
Decreased interest in extracurricular activities or other interests.
Isolation from others, including friends and family.
Changes in their appearance (i.e. clothes, makeup, or hairstyle).
Unexplained marks, bruises, or injuries.
Constant emails, texts, or calls from your child’s partner.
Extreme jealousy or possessiveness from your child’s partner.
Abuse to other people or animals by your child’s partner.

How to Help Your Child

If you believe your child is in an abusive relationship, we encourage you not to try to remove them from the situation. It is quite often very difficult for a survivor to leave an abusive relationship. If you force them to do so, you run the risk of alienating them more. Instead, provide them with support, unconditional love, and empower them to make the decision to leave. Here are some helpful ways you can help your child:

Listen and give support.
Accept what your child is telling you.
Show concern.
Focus on behaviors, not the person involved.
Avoid ultimatums.
Be prepared.
Decide on next steps together.
For more information, visit loveisrespect.org.

Prevention Support

The prevention of teen dating violence starts at home. Talk with your child. Find opportunities to bring up the topic, allowing for discussion and questions. For steps to start a conversation, click here.

Don’t lecture your child. Instead, find ways to engage them in conversation and encourage questions. Discuss available resources. Work together with your child to create a safety plan. For more information on safety planning, click here.