Dating when you’re at high school can be a dream or a nightmare! To avoid embarrassment, hurt and humiliation, we’ve got a few tips to help keep you top of the pile and evade any difficult situations.

1. Keep it to yourself unless you want everyone to know.

It sounds cynical, but if you’re going to attempt any romantic gestures to ensnare your crush, be aware that they could – if they were mean – show these things to others around your high school. If you write a heart felt love letter, or record yourself singing a love song for them, and they don’t reciprocate the feelings then that letter or MP3 could find itself around the entire campus within hours.

2. Keep it light hearted.

If you start lusting over someone who doesn’t feel the same way about you, then you are guaranteed to heading to a dark place. If you still fancy someone after they have rejected you, try to keep it as low key as possible, or else you will be ridiculed. Plus, the object of your affection might not actually WANT you to know his timetable inside out and turn up outside their every class…

3. Realise that love can happen many times in life.

Your high school sweet heart may seem like the only person you could ever love right now, but in years to come you may look back on your college life and think you took it too seriously. Love can happen many times in your life as long as you are open to it happening.

4. Try group dates.

Double dating can be a good laugh, and takes the pressure off of you being alone with your crush. Go for pizza, catch a movie or hold a small house party (if you’re allowed!)

As a teenager hoping to get onto the dating scene, we know you feel daunted, a bit nervous and very excited! There’s lots of teenage dating advice out there, but we’ve made a comprehensive guide on all the important information you need to know. Some teenage dating advice assumes that you are still a child, and some teenage dating advice assumes that you are an adult, but we’ve got the real tips that you need!

Tip 1: Don’t rush into it.
As a teenager, you probably want to start to experience what it’s like to date, but you might not be ready to fall in love or have a serious relationship.

Tip 2: Think about what you want from dating.
Do you just want to spend some time with the opposite gender? Or are you looking for someone you can be close to? Or are you just interested in experiencing the physical side of dating? Whatever you feel ready for, make sure your partner is on a similar level and wants the same thing as you do.

Tip 3: Enjoy it!
Don’t worry about if a date goes horribly wrong, or if your crush rejects you. This is your time for learning about dating and seeing what it’s like from both sides. Don’t get hung up on the fact that they don’t call you or aren’t interested in you – just move on and enjoy it.

Tip 4: Realise that everyone is different.
Whilst your friends might be dating, you might not feel ready for it. If you’re not sure, then just say no. You’ll know when it feels right and when you want to do it. Statistics show that many people don’t become active daters until their early twenties.

Tip 5: Be confident.
If you want to ask someone out, then ask them! If you want to kiss them, then ask them. If you don’t want to, then you should also be confident to say no. Whether you want to do something or you don’t, be confident, be assertive.

Being a teenage girl and trying to date can be both the best and worst experiences of your life! The trick is to not get in too deep, and not expect too much. Yes, it’s true, you might meet the love of your life when you are 15. But there is a higher chance of you meeting your true partner when you are a bit older. Bear this in mind when dating in your teenage years. We’ve got some more great tips so you get the best out of your teenage years!

1. Enjoy it.

Dating is supposed to be fun. With college, university, travel and more all looming ahead in the not too distant future, you probably don’t REALLY want to get tied down to a serious relationship. So, by all means, date guys and do what your feelings tell you to (it’s all part of the learning experience) but don’t get too hung up on a guy. Put your studies and whatever else is important to you first, and guys can come second. You’ll appreciate following this advice when you’re older, I assure you!

2. Don’t be pressured into anything.

It’s a well known fact that when you’re a teen, you feel under pressure to have a relationship, kiss people or have sex, because you think that everyone else your age is doing it. Giving someone your love, time and effort is precious though, so don’t waste it on people who don’t deserve it.

3. Remember how boys are different to girls!

Not to tar everyone with the same brush, but many teenage boys are keen to start dating for different reasons to us girls. Make sure that whoever you’re dating has a similar outlook to you. If you want a serious relationship and your date just wants to have sex, then you’re going to feel disappointed as well as pressurised.

4. Love comes and goes.

You might feel desperately in love right now, and maybe you are. But it is possible to fall in love many times with many different people. Be positive about yourself, and be open minded. The best will come to you.

You’d think that because the internet is so huge, there would be lots of information and advice to help guide you through the process of dating, as a teenager. Unfortunately though, most of the advice given just isn’t that useful. We’ve put together a simple list of essential points that will ensure you have the best experience when dating during adolescence.

1. Don’t take it too seriously.
You really do have your whole life ahead of you, so don’t rush into anything. Your hormones are all over the place, which may make everything feel a lot more emotional than it really needs to be. By all means, go on dates, flirt and have fun. But don’t get too wrapped up in any teenage relationships. Most don’t last.

2. Be cool.
Stay interested in your hobbies, family, studies and friends. If you spend too much time on a relationship, it’s highly likely that you’ll let these other important factors in your life dissolve a bit. Besides, you don’t want to be the kinda high school kid who learns their crush’s timetable and turns up outside their math class, eh? Weird!

3. Be open-minded.
Don’t be governed by what you THINK is cool. If you fancy someone, and they like you, then go out on a date and see if you connect. Don’t just date the people that your friends say it’s OK to date. Be your own person.

4. Stay within your personal boundaries.
Just because all of your friends say they are having sex or making out, does not mean that it is true!! Most people don’t lose their virginity until they are 18, but then there are plenty who lose their virginity much later, and some lose it earlier. Only go as far as you are comfortable with, and then your partner will have respect for you.