How soon is TOO soon to Date??

Jen - posted on 04/26/2012

14

Candi - posted on 11/19/2010

My daughter is 5 and has already had 2 boyfriends since she started Kindergarten. Hehe. She can have all the boyfriends she wants right now. But, dating I would have to say 14 and 15 would be supervised. 16 unsupervised. I was 16 when I was allowed to start dating, so I really don't see a problem with it. But, I would have to say home by 10 at 16 as well. No need in 2 teenagers being out later than that at that age. I really think though that it is just going to depend on the parent. We all have our own opinions on what we think is appropriate for our own children. I wouldn't fret too much if my child was 9 or 10 saying she is dating someone. It's just a crush. You are the parent and you set the rules to when they date and when they go out. Your child can not officially go anywhere on a date with anyone without your permission. School kids can put a lot of pressure on others when it comes to dating and having a boyfriend/girlfriend. Your child is probably just trying to fit in and thinks it's cool to be dating someone. Hopefully, there is not a whole lot of feeling being tied into this and thinking they love each other.

Amanda - posted on 11/16/2010

i will cross that bridge when we get there. my daughter is only 6, so it'll be just a few more years here. she has already said boys are getting in line to marry her at school. lol. oh, she's going to be trouble! :)

Nadia - posted on 11/16/2010

At ten, it's probably just something silly. I mean, when i was ten i had 'boyfriends'. We never did anything past holding hands, but we thought it meant something because that's what the adults do. Just keep an eye on it, since kids are trying to grow up too fast these days.

Chrystal - posted on 11/07/2010

I probably won't let my daughter date until she is 16. If she came home and said she liked a boy that she wanted to date, I would be ok with it as long as she was 16, and I would just have to try and trust her that she won't go out and have sex. If she is having sex, I will just have to trust that she is using protection.

Iysha - posted on 11/06/2010

my first boyfriend was when I was 13. i told my mom and not my dad. lol. Children mature at diferent ages both mentally and physically. I know 3 girls, all the same age but so different in the way they think about things and what's age appropriate for them and the things they like to do...I was mature for my age... my thought process was different than my sister's was at that age. She didnt have her first boyfriend until she was 16 and still was afraid to tell dad. My cousin had her first boyfriend after 20 because she was so focused on other things and was so picky, she never gave anybody a chance at being even the slightest bit romantically involved...she wanted an A&F model. lol...I think I'm going to have to wait until the time comes and try to talk my husband into accepting that she will like boys (or girls) and that she is going to want to date and that all we can do as parents is teach her to make good decisions and to be open with at least one of us so that we can help her with any decisions she has to make with the relationship...whether that be how to break up with the person without hurting their feelings too bad or having sex. I'm not going to allow dating until my baby is at leat 13 though....hopefully it will be later though.

Brittany - posted on 11/06/2010

14 supervised, 18 unsupervised... really I find dating pointless anyway. Courtship makes more sense and that shouldn't happen until at least 18... preferably 20.

Yes I did date... but looking back it wasn't so much dating as hanging out with a good friend. We played videogames and saw movies... often with other friends.

I also understand that there is a peer pressure to date young. But really what is the point... unless you plan on having premarital sex... but then why not just do friends with benefits there isn't much of a difference.

Stacy - posted on 11/06/2010

I will let my son and daughter date when they meet these standards:

responsibility towards school work, respect authority, moral maturity ,independence of thought, strength of will

social judgment, history of conduct in other social settings & choice of friends.

I know that these standards will not be met at least by the time they are 17,18 on their way to college. So whenever the question would come up by either one of them I will refer to the check list.

Ashley - posted on 11/06/2010

lol im terrified of that day i honestly dont no as mine are still little but i defiantly want them to understand dating is serious and is for adults hopefully i have 15 years to worry or change my mind lol.

Lacye - posted on 11/06/2010

i'm not going to let my daughter date until she is at least 16. to me anytime before then is just too young.

Kristen - posted on 11/06/2010

Hehe, I tell everyone that my son is not allowed to "date" until he is married. But being realistic, I decided that he can actually go on a date as soon as he enters high school. He can have "girlfriends" all he wants, but if he is going to seriously date a girl he needs to be older.
When I was in junior high I had boyfriends all the time, but I never went on dates. Yes, we would go to school dances and things like that together but I never went anywhere with these boys by myself.
I know what I plan to allow Wilde to do, but I can't say that will actually happen when he is old enough to have a girlfriend.