COLUMBUS, Ohio — Nationwide Children’s Hospital's Green Flags website helps students and teens recognize what they like about their relationships. 

What You Need To Know

  • Green flags can look like healthy communication, clear boundaries and having a relationship with your partner while maintaining friendships 

  • Isolation, control and high anxiety communication are usual signs of red flags in a relationships

  • Parents should have these tough conversations with their children throughout the school year

Experts say that the sooner parents have tough conversations with their teens the better. The Nationwide Children’s Hospital launched a website that helps parents navigate this inevitable stage of life. Green flags are filled with resources for both teens and the adults in their lives.

According to experts, you don't have to wait until your teen is in a relationship to initiate these in-depth talks. The website offers conversation starter cards and guide books to help adults navigate what support looks like for teens. Alena Schuckmann is with Children's Center for Family and Safety Healing and said it’s important to recognize and be aware of a teen’s behavior, respond positively and refer to a green flags specialist when needed.

“Respond by showing your concern about the teen's safety and well-being," Schuckmann said. “It's really important to approach teens with curiosity rather than judgment. This can sound like these behaviors are not your fault, or I'm here to help you, or I'm in this with you.”

Exploring green flags can help teens:

  • Set healthy boundaries  — making sure that their partner is not trying to control or isolate them
  • Understand how to have hard conversations —  in any relationship students should have the confidence to say no if they feel uncomfortable
  • Online safety — teens should report or block any account that makes them feel uncomfortable and feel comfortable keeping their logins and passwords safe to themselves 

These conversations are important to maintain all year round. If you want to access tools and resources to support the teens in your life you can visit the Green Flags website here.