Growing Up: What age should your teenager start dating?
The culture of teen dating has evolved, but has the age at which it starts changed too?
As a parent, you have to be committed to guiding your child through several complex stages of life. You go from changing their diapers, to teaching them how to tie their shoes and eventually helping them understand love and the concept of dating. The teen years are not going to be easy on you or your child, so what is the appropriate age for teenagers to start dating and how can you prepare yourself for potential issues?
Most experts recommend 15 and 16 as the ideal ages to begin dating. For Dr. Ron Eagar, a paediatrician at Denver Health Medical Center, the best age is 16. He told HealthyChildren.org, “There’s an enormous difference between a 14 or 15-year-old and a 16 or 17-year-old in terms of life experience.” The answer also depends other significant factors, such as your child’s personality and level of maturity.
When it comes to teenage romance, adults generally have a cynical view of it. A boy and a girl stroll down the street holding hands, and all parents can see is their child’s testosterone and oestrogen going out on a date. However, the most important thing is to not make your child feel bad about his or her feelings, even if you think they may be too young to have them. Dr. George Comeric, a Tuscan paediatrician, told HealthyChildren.org, “Parents should never minimise or ridicule a first love. It is a very important relationship to teenagers, and it’s important for another reason, in that it is their first intimate relationship with someone outside their family”.
If your child’s grades are not deteriorating and everything else seems stable, you should allow them to progress from friendships to dating at their own pace and try not to overthink it. Trust and empathy are essential for a healthy family relationship, so calmly supervise your teens and let them know that they can come to you if they need someone to talk to.
Jade Yeo
Photo: Getty Images
