Joey & Carla Link
February 4, 2026
With Valentine’s Day coming soon and spring-time around the corner, teenagers start looking at dating if they are not already involved in a relationship. It’s both a scary and exciting time for parents, as they remember their own dating experiences and know they need to let their older teens have their own experiences as well.
Parents also know they need to start conversations about how to find a best friend, a lifelong and eventually marriage partner. But, how can they help their older teens learn what kind of person they should want to date and what kind of person they shouldn’t? How can their young adult kids know when someone is “the one”? How do they talk to them about guarding their heart to prevent potential hurt in the process, or compromising their values? How do you explain to your teens that dating and being in a dating relationship are not the same thing?
Not by our authority but in conversation with our teens individually, we talked to them about how to know the timing would be right to start considering a dating relationship and how to go on dates without further committing themselves.
This is why we put together a two-part video series, not as a how-to date, but rather giving an over-arching, easy-to-follow philosophy for teens 16 yrs. and above and young adults to use to help them with this. It is something both parents and teens/young adults can agree on together so they are on the same page.
Here is a testimony from a parent who has used the two-part downloadable video with 2 of their adult kids. Recently their 17-year-old daughter wanted to watch it with Mom and Dad too. Here is what Mom said her daughter’s response was after they watched it together.
“We watched your “Dating, Courting and Choosing a Mate, What Works” videos this weekend with our youngest, 17-year-old. It had been 4 years since we watched it with our middle daughter. This daughter appreciated it so much and said she really liked that it gave some guidelines, structure and ideas, and loved the concept of friendship dating. She has a friend who is “courting” right now with the parents in charge of everything. Your teaching, that put the couple in charge of their relationship with the blessing of the parents helped clarify for her how her friend’s form of dating does not help a person fully get to know another person before marriage. She was even asking to watch the 2nd part without me saying anything as she was getting so much from you both. She said the two of you make the presentation fun to watch. She loved Joey’s stories and charts and Carla’s great input. Just wanted to thank you for the blessing of this teaching for our family.” – Mom in Tampa, FL
In this 2-part digital series, we compare and contrast courtship dating with cultural dating which used to be called “going steady”, but now is called on social media “in a relationship”. What keeps and holds a relationship together through life is the years of friendship built on shared trust that says, “I have trusted you with my heart, now I can trust you with my finances, my body, and all that I have and share the rest of my life with you.”. It’s like what the Shulamite woman said to king Solomon in Song of Songs 5:16 “This is my lover, this is my friend.”
Click here to purchase and download the Dating, Courting & Choosing a Mate video and workbook.
Use code FEB8 at checkout by 2/8/26 for $3 off the video & workbook download
Parenting Made Practical Podcasts
#59 Are Your Kids Ready to Start Dating? Dating issues can be complex and overwhelming. Get help developing a dating philosophy that works for you and your kids.
Click the title or search Parenting Made Practical in your favorite
podcast app to listen!
If you have a teen in your home and you’re looking for a little more support as you navigate the teen years, we’d love to invite you to join our upcoming 5 week zoom class on parenting during the teenage years. Click here to register!