Parents> Opinion question about dating> Please look!<Short!?

Parents, I want you opinion on two things: 1- How old/what grade do you feel your teen should be in when he/she starts dating? 2- How many years/grade difference do you feel is pushing it (i.e, your student is in 9th grade and the other is is 11th grade= 2 years)? Thank you for your input, feel free to explain your opinion, the more thorough you are the more likely you are to win the points! Thanks! Simplebutsweet

Public Comments

1. i think they should be in 8th grade when they start dating and if they REALLY know their rights from wrongs then maybe 6th or 7th grade. and i think 2 years should be the maximum limit definatly!! i sure hope this answers your questions!! ♥kaylee
2. My parents let me date my boyfriend.. im in 9th hes in 11th :D
3. I'm an old fashioned parent who thinks that high school dating should be done in groups, no matter what age. The age difference really depends on the ages. I wouldn't let a junior in high school go out with a freshman in college, but I might let a freshman in high school go out with a junior in high school. All of this is entirely dependent on the maturity of the two teenagers. It's really difficult to come up with a one-size-fits-all rule for teen dating.
4. A child should be as old as they want to be when they want to start dating (not sure if that made any sense) Or in other words, if my 7 yr old wanted to take another 7yr old out to the movies, I am all for it. Mom or dad sit in the seat next to them, they enjoy the laughs, maybe all go to the ice cream parlor after ward. The reasoning here is that a young child that is 'dating' is going with their parents. The parents can then observe and the kids can learn. As time goes on, a level of trust and understanding is reached and when it is time for the child to go out without the adult, everyone is fine for it. I don't approve of a 16yr old starting to date for the first time. There has been no learning curve, there is no level of trust. There is only unknown, and the more experienced of the dating couple will have the upper hand. This is a quick road to a teen pregnancy. As for difference in ages. Children mature at an incredible rate from age 1 to 16. A 14 yr old girl looks at a 12 yr old boy as a child, and 'immature'. (During my tenure as a bus driver, I had a 14yr old who was a bit promiscuous and was brought to the front of the bus to sit with the 6th graders. She constantly complained about having to sit with the 'babies'.) Rest assured that boys feel the same way. 16 yr old guys look at 14 yr old girls as 'inexperienced', 'virgins', and easily seduced. The kids who are dating should be at least in the same grade. Therefore a 1 year difference in ages is probably ok until age 16-17. The exception would come as in the case of my son, who has a late in the year birthday, and his girlfriend who is younger by 3 months is in a grade down.... though roughly the same age.
5. 1.from 13 up 2.no age difference as long as i meet them first i have no problems with my son dating as long as i get to meet them first and that i know where they are going and i dont have problems with age as my husband and i have a big age difference and i dont feel the problem with him having a big age difference just as long as hes happy im happy
6. my parents always said i had to be 16 years old but my boyfriend and i have been together since i was 14 and he was 16 mum didnt like it, but she got used to it i think any more than 2 years difference is pushing it