What’s A Good Age To Start Dating?

2008 February 01 by: Scott

Most of the dating articles that you will find out there has to do with teen dating. What many parents are discovering is that younger children are talking to each other about dating too. Parenting and child development experts on beginning to recognize this trend and new parenting tips are now coming online. ScottCounseling recognizes one such article written by author, Julie Baumgardner, who provides words of wisdom for parents searching for solutions to this question:

When is a good time for children to start dating?

A young mom was talking with her 8-year-old daughter about her day at school when the daughter revealed she had a boyfriend. Mom, in her infinite wisdom said, “You are really too young to have a boyfriend. You should have lots of boys as friends at your age.” The little girl sighed and said, “I know, but when I am 14, I will be old enough to date.” Somewhat surprised by the comment, the mother asked her daughter what you do on a date. With no hesitation, the daughter said, “You have sex.” With all kinds of thoughts reeling through her head, the mother asked, “Where did you hear that?” The little girl told her mother she had heard it at school from her friends who heard it from their older siblings.

Are you shocked? That mother sure was. But, in reality, should we be surprised? Have you ever had a discussion with your teen about the purpose of dating or what you do on a date? In an informal survey of teens, many of them stated that they have never had a conversation with their parents about dating other than curfew and expectations concerning drinking and driving. Many parents have the belief, “nobody talked to me about dating and I turned out pretty good so what’s the big deal?”