Dating is the primary way teenagers explore relationships with members of the opposite sex. It allows them to gain experience that will ultimately help them to choose a mate. To the discomfort of many parents, teenagers who are dating are also making decisions about having or not having sex . This discomfort can lie at the bottom of much of the tension between parents and their children over this topic. Teenage girls usually start dating sometime between eighth grade and the senior year in high school.
Boys are often a couple of years behind that.
As a parent, there is less likely to be conflict if you set fair rules, get to know your teenagers' dates, communicate clearly about your sexual values, and avoid downgrading the boy or girl your child is dating. But most child development experts caution that if parents try too hard to forbid a relationship, their efforts will likely backfire. Chances are, the teens will intensify their feelings as they unite together against adversity. For more information about teen dating, talk with your doctor. This information is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for professional care.