When is the right age for your teen to start dating?

As parents, knowing when to begin letting your teenager date can be a difficult (and sometimes emotional) decision. It is certainly one many parents wrestle with on a regular basis. As uncomfortable as it may be knowing your teen has a romantic life – or allowing them the chance to develop one – remember that this is a normal, healthy, and necessary part of any young adult’s emotional development. While some teens will start dating earlier than others, the truth is that most teens are eventually going to be interested in dating at some point in their lives or another.

When your teen wants to start dating

The age of 16 seems to be an appropriate age to start dating, but it may be entirely suitable for your mature 15-year-old to go on a date, or to make your immature 16-year-old wait a year or two. Simply put, there is no right or wrong age to allow your teen to start dating. It’s important to consider your child as an individual. Consider their emotional maturity and sense of responsibility. The age of the person your teen wants to date may also be the deciding factor for you. For tweens, dating likely means lots of time spent texting or talking on the phone, sharing images on social media, and hanging out in groups. For teens,  strong romantic attachments can be formed. Teenage relationships can gather steam quickly, especially if your teen wants to date someone who is much older than they are. 

Talk to your child

When your teen starts dating, encourage them to keep communication channels open about relationships. Dating should be fun at their age but the world is changing and they may find themselves entangled in serious issues. Be frank about sexual health. It can be a difficult conversation for everyone involved, but it’s critical to be honest and clear about the facts. Your child should be comfortable to tell you about the good and the bad stuff happening in their relationship. There is a rise in gender-based violence, so advise your child to tell you if their partner becomes aggressive or intimidates them. Start talking casually about what constitutes a healthy relationship to build the framework they’ll use when they’re ready to start dating.