Let's face it: dating is always complicated. To meet someone, take that person to dinner or something; to make a commitment…this kind of thing get many people very nervous before a simple date. And if even grown ups feel this way, what's to say about teenagers?

Statistics shows that more than 1 out of 10 teenagers (12 percent) are in a relationship with someone they have been dating for more than a year. Of course, they had to walk a long way to get there. But, once you find a nice partner, there are still a lot of things that can get in the way. In fact, being teenagers, they are much more insecure and less confident than adults. And that's okay, because they are just starting to discover their bodies, and to know what they really want. But can a teenager, in the middle of all that, keep a long relationship, dealing with things like commitment, sex, hormones and much more?

All right, they are getting more and more precocious. But that doesn't mean they know everything, or at least enough. The truth is that dating becomes a very essential part of a teenager's social life. It gives them confidence, and if this part of their lives can't be developed, it sticks with them for a long time. It's important that teens pass through this course without hurry, and enjoying it. Nonetheless, problems are many that could get in the way, so it's good if they can get some support when needed.

Besides the parent's advices and support, there are plenty of teen magazines that always give some tips about dating. Plus, with the advent of internet, the options multiplied, and there are lots of web pages where they can get help. But, as usual, they have to be careful: not always, the tips are for real - some contradict others, and they can get confused in the midst of information. The right thing to do is to filter information, but they are only teenagers, they haven't grown up enough to separate things - it just becomes part of their learning.

Teenage dating is an amazing part of life, so the best to do is to enjoy it. In spite of all tips and advices, there are no rules to be followed. These things are just for help, for directions, they serve more as support than rules. The fact is that only discovering by himself what he likes and what he could do; he will be ready to face all the dating consequences and benefits. The more a teenage knows what he wants, the less he let things get in the way. And that's all that matters.