What Age Would You Let Your Kid Start Dating?
By lala501
@lala501 (1532)
United States
April 4, 2011 1:14pm CST
I have no kids of my own yet. But I remember that I wasn't allowed to date until I was 16. Would you let your kids date only when they hit a specific age or would you let them start dating when they got into that kind of thing. I thing i would let my kid date when they were around 13/14. I would keep a good eye on them no matter what gender they are. I know some parents it depends on the gender, but I don't think that's fair. so what do you think?
3 people like this
9 responses
@AmbiePam (88834)
• United States
5 Apr 11
I was allowed to date when I was sixteen, and I would make that the rule with my own child. Statistics say the younger the teen is when they start dating, the more likely they will become pregnant or get someone pregnant. Now before anyone starts in on me for that statement, I didn't say everyone did that. I mean my own mom was 14 when she started dating and she didn't get pregnant. She was actually a virgin when she got married, so obviously that statistic doesn't apply to everyone. But I think it is better safe than sorry. Double dating I would allow at the age of fifteen, but single dating I would make them wait until they were sixteen.
@Cherish14 (2693)
• Philippines
5 Apr 11
my parents are very strict. they never let us date. we were always home and could never go out. we were even sent to exclusive school for girls. but as my elder sisters get older they of course started to like boys too. when my parents knew that my other sister has a boyfriend, oh dear they turned into monsters all of a sudden and well... you know what happens next. hehe
being the youngest among the girls, my mom was even more strict to me BUT i never felt that somehow they cared about me too, not about worrying for me to have a boyfriend, but also in some other things, like i couldn't go to the mall. if i get home past 5 pm, they turn into monsters again... but when i had my first boyfriend when i was 17, it's not like a normal relationship... a long distance relationship. the communication is constant and well, i kept it from my parents for a year and a half. my boyfriend would come home to me twice a year for 3 weeks. then.... now we are celebrating our 7th year anniversary soon
when i told my mom about it, she was mad too but i told her to not get mad because anyway i don't go out with him on a date because he is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo far from me. my dad was mad but he just doesn't talk.
now my boyfriend, only comes home to me once a year because he has a job now.
i tell myself that i am going to allow my children to date when they are at the right age, well around 18 but as long as they should also put limits to themselves and what they are doing. i don't want them to be like those other very young kids who got pregnant or had his girlfriend pregnant because of not enough knowledge about everything in life.
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@Cherish14 (2693)
• Philippines
5 Apr 11
well, i hope i can be a good parent too someday. we never know what happens in the future, but i hope i can handle them too.
good luck to us ![](/Content/images/emotes/lol.gif)
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@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
5 Apr 11
We believe in waiting until they are 16. I do not think it is appropriate to date at 11, 12 or even 15. Let them be kids and just take the stress off of them. There is no need to date at that age and yes I know for many what they call dating is holding hands but I don't care to risk some boy being more advanced knocking up my daughter.
@pogi253 (1596)
• Philippines
5 Apr 11
I assume, kids these days don't know much about dating, but they have their personal feelings for the guy they like. For guys it's easier, since they are thought to go through dating. But girls, need to practice healthy dating from 15 onwards since they grown-up and learn from their mistakes. Even if you stop them, they will do it. So it's better to let them do it. Teenagers these days are unruly and tend to do things which parents tell them nor too. Bur with appropriate explanations and if they do know their limits and boundaries, they should date and know the experience. 15 is the right age.
@lala501 (1532)
• United States
5 Apr 11
Yes kids don't know that much about dating i guess. That's why the parents or other responsible adults should teach them the right path. But ultimatly it's up to the teenagers if they listen or not. I don't think it's different for the girls or guys about dating because im pretty sure the guys will learn from their mistakes in dating when their adults also.Not just the girls.
@kheydia (882)
• Philippines
5 Apr 11
Maybe i could allow them to go group dating at an early age, and i would see to it that i know their friends whom they go with, and when they are mature enough to go on dates individually to get to know someone and responsible enough to know their limitations and so on,they can go date already no matter what age they are. And ofcourse i should know whom they are dating with.
@hazeljoymilloria (44)
• Philippines
5 Apr 11
For me, though I don't have kids yet, but when I will have one or more I will definitely let them go on a date when they are already responsible with their acts and with what they are doing. I am really not very particular with the age and I don't want to be so strict with them. In fact I want to be their best friend whom they can tell secrets with especially with their love life.;)
@CONDLAUR (134)
• Romania
4 Apr 11
Dating on 13/14 years could have a bad impact on children. At that age i had only friends and not lovers. In fact at the time when I was that age things were different. Having a lover at 13 was absurd and no one had one. Today I see children going on dates all the time. I do not see this a good constructive thing. The psyche of the kid its not developed and a breakup could damage your kids sense of life. I seen many cases on TV with kids of 15 years that ended their lives for lover. The best age for starting a good stable relationship I say it will be around 17-18 years when the kid's mind is old enough to be aware of implications of the relationships. I seen people at 20-25-30 years that could not handle the problems of a breakup So at 13-14 years what do you think your kids will do if they would go through a breakup???
@maunesrockford92078 (305)
• Philippines
5 Apr 11
well in the future if ever i'm going to have children, first i'll have to talk to them whatever gender it does not count, about their responsibilities but i would suggest they finished their studies first.
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