would you let your teenager get a tattoo

Hi there. My husband and I had that discussion yesterday about our son well he is only 18 months LOL but we were discussing it because of our niece who wanted a piercing when she was 12. The thing is, in her case, it was difficult for her to accept a firm NO from her mum because she had some herself. i think it is very important to explain a teenager the circumstances in which you got the tatoo, if it was painful, and more importantly why you regret it today. My husband had promised our niece that if she did not get any tatoo before she was 18 (so he basically set a date to it) that he would pay for her driver license. Well she can go and get her license and then stop by the tatoo shop and get all the tatoos she has been dreaming of for the last few years LOL so I don´t think that it is a good option. Regarding our son, my husband has himself tatoos that he got when he was a teenager so he is planning on showing them to him and tell him how ugly they look like by then (all faded and unrecognizable) hoping this will eventually discourage him in getting any...

i have 3 older children 21,19,17...my little one is 6 my oldest daughter got her first tattoo at 15...she now has 3 of them.. my 17 yr old son just got his first the other day...i took him to a highly recommended..clean tattoo shop...and signed the permission form once i had seen the design and a decision was made as to where it would be..(i might add that i would not grant my permission for a face tattoo or anything that extreme) if it was my choice...for myself..no tattoos...not that i don't like them...just don't want something that permanent on my body... i have learned in raising my children that often to forbid something you also set up rebellion...after explaining to my 2 kids that wanted tattoos... it may be something you are sorry for later...and all the downsides of tattooing...they still went ahead and had them done...now they will live with the consequences of that decision...not me...and both tattoos are very tasteful and nicely done because i helped them in the decision of where and what to tattoo...(they listened to my advice...because i didn't "forbid"....) overall in the journey of life...i don't think getting a tattoo is all that big of an issue...nor is green/blue/purple hair...piercings or makeup...what is important is that your child has the ability to feel confident..loved..respectful..and is honest with you and themselves...parents get too worked up about things that really ..in the end...don't matter

I respect individual decision when it comes on personal things and it is not bad to have a tattoo in your body but as a parent I do not like my children to have a tattoo specially my teeners who are into college its not good to see a future nurse having a tattoo. so it depends on the situation. my second child also I will not allow for he is going to enter the seminary soon. hope I didnot offend anyone here. Have a great day to all

I would not let my teenager get a tattoo. My husband and I do not have any tattoos. I think that if they really want one and they are going to get one when they are 18 anyways you should have them draw out what they want on a piece of paper. Then go and get it done with henna. You should keep that paper in a safe place. In a few years (close to their 18th bnirthday) Take them to get it tattood with henna again in the same place. Ask them if they still like the tatto and if they say no I'm so glad I didn't get that maybe it will make them think before getting a tattoo. Hopefully if they do get one it will be something really meaningful to them that they will always enjoy.

I would. The reason why is because if they are wanting it bad, they will find a way to get it and the place they may get it might not be a place they should have went. My daughter has been wanting a belly button ring for the last year, she is 17 now. I told her no in the beginning give it some time and see if she still wants it. Well she has and she still wants one and the other day she came and asked me if she could get one now. I told her yes and she was shocked because there was no lecture or anything and to her she was like wow, now I need to make sure I still want it. And I did tell her that I wanted to be with her that way I know where she is going and I can stake out the situation for hygene and sterlization and such. These are things I don't think they will look for. I know this is a tatoo vs belly ring permanent vs not permanent. But I think you should knida handle it the same way. Try to be the same, give it some time and then if you still want it type deal becuase you don't was your teen going to a hole in the wall place getting more than just a tatoo. Re. diseases and such.

I wouldnt because like you said their interests will change, and then when their older it is just something else they can blame on you. My mom never let me get one and I did finally get one when I was of age, but I realized I am proud of this one and I dont think I would've been proud of one I chose as a teenager and I am glad she didnt let me get one then. I would approve of it at 18.

no,i won't let my kids to have tattoos,as long as they are young and we live under the same roof, i would not allow them. i have nothign against tattoos, but i have reasons why i do not want my kids to have them at young age. i want them to look tidy, and they can share and donate blood if necessary. as person with tattoos cannot donate blood. if they are old enough then they can decide for themselves.

Absolutely not. I am covered in them but didn't get my first one till I was around 25 or so. There is no way at 13 years of age that you would have any idea of what you would want on your body permanently. Even at 18, I would take the time to make sure that what they wanted was something reasonable (for example NOT the name of the latest, greatest boy band), and also make sure that they do their research correctly when looking for a tattoo shop and artist.

With all the desease out there right now. No way. I have a freind who got a tat and it was a lovely eagle. Then he got sick after a few weeks of test they finally told him he has hepititis. I have a half brother who has tons of tats and he now on the back side of forty and he looks terrible with them. I have to say I think that tats are neat however, my taste change from minute to minute so what i would get today I would not want tomorrow.

I would say 13 is old enough to decide what he/she wants on his/her back as a tattoo. Our taste of things will keep on changing. Even for you, what you think you would like to have as a tattoo now may seem ridiculous 10 years down the line. Taste is something that changes constantly. Your child will keep changing the tattoos as often as they would want and can.

When I was younger, I am curious about having a tattoo but I know my mother will never allow me to do so. So what I did was to buy removable ones and tried to put in places I would think I would like it. Then I realize it is not me, so I got rid of that notion altogether. Probably I will tell my daughter if she wanted one to just get a henna tattoo. Permanent is a no no because basing on my cultural background, those who got tattoos are viewed as people who had jail time. No matter how you tell them it is pretty common nowadays, it is still perceived as negative.

i think if i knew that my child had thought it through properly then why not. but they should be at least 16 years old. i want one now and im 17

i don't really know what to say abot that. i mean i haven't really wanted one for myself when i was younger, but i wouldn't mind one very much. and i would consider my kid having one. but not over do it. but theese day there are alternatives. you can get a tattoo that will last only for an year or two and not leave any marks. so i'd probably let my kid(s) to haveone of those, so they won't regret it later. if they still like it when they grow up thay can have a permanent one.

i got my first tatoo at 19 'cause my paretns didn't want me to to thi before i was old enough it dipends on hich agehas your son... well 13 arefew to do a tattoo in my opinion, tell him/her to wait at least until 15...

i think i will talk to them about having a tattoo. i will explain to them the effect of having one. i personally got a lot of problem because of my tattoo. i got a lot of job rejections because of having one.

I don't have a kid yet. But when I was a teenager I wanted to have tattoo. I wanted to have an anklet tattoo.Dunno because it somehow makes me feel cool to the eyes of my friends and it expresses my individuality. What my mother did was to bring me to a henna tattoo artist and told me to choose the design that I want. So my mother comporomised and I did too. She paid for my henna tattoo.She told me to observe if I really like a tattoo. Eventually I got tired of the design and I have outgrown tattoos.I am in my late 20s now. I sure am glad I did not have a permanent tattoo.

Well, I realize that I'm not a parent and that I'm a teen, but personally I would let my teenager (in the event I ever adopt of miraculously decide to have children of my own someday) get a tatoo..THAT said, I'd ask them why they wanted one..try to decypher what reasons they could have, and tell them they have to be REALLY certain they want it, and that it should REALLY mean something to them. Or else they should wait until they figure that out. I don't think you can say if there's a 'right age' since all kids develope and grow mentally, emotionally, and maturely..very differently. For some it might be when they're thirteen, others when they're seventeen..it all depends on YOUR child.

Wow No way. I am 30 and don't have any tattos I personally think they are tacky. I also think of my body as a temple so therefore I try to not do bad things to it. I would never allow my child to get a tattoo and I have told her that when I was younger I wanted one. I did I wanted a purple rose really badly. Now I am so glad I didn't get on at I so would have regreted it!

My feeling is that you have to choose your battles. If you child is a good student, and they are overall a good kid, yes, depending on what the tatoo was, I would let them get it. I would first explain to them, that they should think about it clearly, because they may regret it later, but if they still wanted it, I would allow it, as long as it wasn't in certain places, or a huge offensive one.

im not in favor of that..i would not let my daughter/ or son to get a tattoo.. its ok if its hena.. maybe in future that would be one of the reason why cant he/she achieve his dreams.