What age is appropriate for you kid to start dating?

jeffsgal105

Define dating first.

Middle School age kids go to movies etc. as a group many times.... they probably consider that a date. Mom and Dad driving their child to meet someone at a school dance is probably considered a date to many. I also think it depends on the child, their maturity level, the age difference between the two wanting to date, is the boy driving the girl and are they alone etc. etc. etc.

alleyag

Wow, every poster said it. Wow. I just cant understand people

Really dude? Loosen up. Joke a little. Do you need a hug?

JennaM222

First date was 15 - only becasue my parents adored him and his christian family

Otherwise, it was 16 If I remember correctly and my parents had to meet then and they HAD to come to the door.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

As a 20 year old, really dating in my opinion, as a guy, shouldnt happen until 16, when you can drive yourself places. Anything before is just childish crushes, saying you are boyfriend and girlfriend, when you have only maybe held hands, never talk to eachother, whatever. Everything before, getting drove by your parents, etc is not only akward for the kids, but really akward for the parents too.

Note: This is coming from a serious place, not the whole irritating and annoying, my daughter is never gonna date because she is not allowed to have a life, or live in any fashion like a normal human being. I feel as though as soon as this reply posts there will be 5 people who said exactly that, but Im just saying, these people are being simply rediculous, and are not working to actually help the poster, they just think that joking about overparenting is cute.

For me the "25" and joking about "40" is the closest answer anyone will get from me. The decision of readiness, I think, should be subjective and on a per child basis, as each one is very different.

Scott613

21 legal drinking age legal dating age.

3ball

25, or when I'm dead. Whichever is comes first.

Pollywog39

Wow, every poster said it. Wow. I just cant understand people

NOT ME!

Qarol

Seeing as how my dad was opposite of most protective fathers, I cannot comment. At 12, he was asking me why I wasn't dating yet. At 16, he wanted me on the pill. At 18, he asked why I was still a virgin. Father of the Year...

Shannon023

I might be in the minority, but I don't want my daughter to date/have a boyfriend until after graduation.

Concentrate on school and having fun with your friends. Relationship cr@p can come later.

She's only 10 now, and so far she's on board with this since boys have cooties. :laugh: :drinker:

YukonJoy

Wow, every poster said it. Wow. I just cant understand people

Really dude? Loosen up. Joke a little. Do you need a hug?

Um.... I do :bigsmile:

baisleac

When they're ready. Every person (young or old) is different.

VeganGal84

no kids yet, but I think that my parents got it right when they made me wait until I was 16.

I had "boyfriends" before that, but that was just passing love notes and holding hands and having dramatic break-up scenes in the lunch room. :laugh: I didn't date until 16.

usmcmp

As soon as they have their driver's license.

_Ben

Wow, every poster said it. Wow. I just cant understand people

Really dude? Loosen up. Joke a little. Do you need a hug?

What of it? Maybe I do! *cowers in the corner*

Sublimely_Self_Righteousreused

So glad I don't have kids!!! I started dating back when I was 15. It was awkward because my parents drove us around to the movies. It was much better when I was 16 and could drive around in my car.

peanut613

Let's see, he's 2 now, so I'm thinking 25 . . .

haha ^^this! my daughter is 2 now, so not until she's 25 or 30!

but in all honesty, probably in high school. at first, supervised dates (like watching a movie with me there to pop my head in) but then at 17ish, alone with the guy. But ONLY with guys I have met several times and approve of! And I'm not sure if I agree with driving together (I remember what happens with 2 teenagers alone in a car!) and I'm still iffy on going to movies alone (same idea as the car!) I'm 110% for group dating! :laugh:

LittleFootHafner

I'm 27, and married with no kids...

However, for all it counts for, I feel that the more you push an unrealistic dating age on a child, the more they will probably try to sneak around.

What's the harm of holding hands and sneaking in a few kisses at 11/12?

I would personally focuse more on the rules WHILE dating, then just not dating...

LauraMacNCheese

I'm going to say not until high school & preferably sophomore or junior year, which would put them at 15-16. I think any younger is just too early to date.

luv_lea

I keep telling my son that girls don't get over their Koodies until 25 ish...haha....Cute enough: He then asks me what Koodies are. Crap!

I think 17 or 18 is a good age. (ideally) I was 14 or 15 and was WAY to young in my opinion.

megz4987

There's a lot that will go into my decision to when we'll 'allow' our daughter to date (because, lets be honest, she'll probably do it behind our backs if we put an age restriction on her). How she handles herself, her persona, etc but I think 16 sounds decent for now.

mark03264

37

bry_all01

I don't want to scare you parents that say over 16, but many people are already having sex by the age 15-17, and usually kids date prior to having sex, so good luck making them wait that long to start dating.

actually, I heard a study the age kids start fdoing IT these days is far lower that 15-17. It starts more like 12-15. Not for ALL kids, but that is the recent report I heard on the radio.....

SabrinaJL

We told ours she could date when she was 16. She'll be 18 in Feb and has yet to go on a date. Not for lack of interest (she gets asked out all the time and has since she was 12). She just feels that she needs to concentrate on school and doesn't want to deal with the drama of dating in high school.

kmtetour

I started when I was a sophomore in high school: 15. My first boyfriend was a senior, but I was his first girlfriend, so it was very innocent. All the other boys I dated were in the same grade as me or one below. I think 15 was good because I was able to "make mistakes" as it were. I know there were some kids at my school that dated earlier, but those "relationships" were ridiculous. I think 15-16 is a good age to start.

rockerbabyy

i havent been through it yet, but my husband and i decided 16 would be a good age for our daughters. or whenever they get their drivers license. not only do i not want to play taxi for dates, i have other rules in mind as well ..i have to meet him/her and know where theyre going and what time theyll be home and all that jazz.
and if they arent polite enough to come to the door, they arent going. nothing i hate more than people honking from the street or driveway.

GibsonDarlin

I am there my daughter will be 16 in November, and that is the age her dad and I set man moons ago. Probably before she could sleep through the night.

I have driven her to the movies to and picked her up, where she met a friend or friends. But once they start driving and you release those keys you as a parent have really lost a lot of control, yet gained some too.

Whenever my kids and I have issues where they think I am unreasonable, I tell them that they are not the only ones that have growing pains, but I do to.

Good Luck with the teenage years, I'll let you know if I survive.....my kids are 16, 16, 13, 11 - lots of fun ahead!

_beachgirl_

22

melizerd

High school (even freshman). It's about when I started dating as well. And that meant sometimes I went on a date with an "older" boy who could drive. My mom was good about calling/talking to his parents and making sure he had been driving enough (not allowed on a date if the weather was bad because of young drivers).

It's ridiculous to think that my son won't date til he's 19 or 20. I was MARRIED at 19 (LOL). I started dating my husband when I was 18. I had 2 very serious boyfriends before that and many single or 2/3 dates with guys.

sweetiepie31612

We had middle school dances so of course we all had "relationships". These consisted of dancing with each other at dances, holding hands, hugging after school. As we reached 7th and 8th grade these "relationships" consisted of group dates, hanging out at each others' houses (doors open when and if allowed in bedrooms), and kissing. Real relationships don't start until high school though when friends start driving and can find more alone time. My best advise would be to be respectful and teach your daughter responsibility. And keep in mind...the more you say "absolutely not" the more she's going to want to do just that.

SailingMike

I am the father of 7. 5 in college, 1 high school and one graduated. All have done well and are well behaved people.

The quick answer is 16. If there was some fancy dance a month or so before their 15th birthday, I would make an exception, but not for anything else. AND at 16 its double or group date ONLY.

At 18... single dating still discouraged, but not forbidden, and no I don't care that they are adults then I am the Dad and I have the wallet '-)