Evening star., 1952-06-08
Introduce
Your Date
To Dad
By Kite Turmoil

By Kite Turmoil
Does your dad think you are too
young to date? Do you want to
win dads approval and make sure
all goes smoothly when you in
troduce date to family?
To answer a few of the dad
versus-date questions asked by
many young people. let's review
recent youth studies and the opin-
ions of experts, including Gladys
Jewett, a university psychologist.
who is the mother Of two teen
ayers. After you scan the an
swers. you might want to discuss
all this with your dad and mother.
as basis for q better understand
ing about date rules at your house.
"How old should girl be before
she is allowed out on her own for
a real date?" ..
First. you are supposed to reach
the social age" at which you have
had enough experience to be ready
for independent dating. regardless
of birthdays. Some girls are more
socially wise at Is than others at
I20. For the ideal preparation for
real dates you need plenty Of
practise in "boy-girl mixing At
parties, at school and club events.
and during some home entertain
ing, before you go on to single
dating" In early teens, parents
and teeners agree in open-diScus-
sion forums, it is better to date
"sparingly," mostly in groups or
on double dates.
Whats the normal age to start
dating?"
The trend now is toward ear
|lier-age dating, as soon as junior
high for some. It is no longer a
novelty for very young teeners to
!, "go steady" for a few days or
, weeks, without taking this "ex-
| pertinent" too seriously. Some
, still wait until the traditional l6
for their first date. Others do not
/ date much, If at all. until after
high school as they 60 on to col
lege or career. This wide range is
! all within the normal. Much de-
5 pends upon community and crowd
customs, also the family wishes.
: which it is still basic courtesy to
} respect.
:. Does dad have the right to
E want to know and boss where you
y go?"
: Yes. Most young people feel
it is fair enough for parents to
! want to check and approve date
destinations. Teen-agers say that
it is best for the boy to tell the
girl where he plans to go-to a
show for example-when he asks
for the date. Then she can relay
I the information to her family. to
e avoid questions and arguments
g when boy calls for girl. Also there
e should be an advance unSerstand-
It ing about home coming time. II
r you are willing to cooperate with
o family rulings, your dad might
t be willing to let you date that
g much sooner.
If dad does not want you to
date, yet, although mother thinks
you are old enough, should you
v sneak out or make it q family
y y showdown"
a No. Both these solutions could
- make you all unhappy. Better to
- try to talk it out together. as a
', family trio in a friendly open way.
=, -, If you draw up sides" for a two
y - against-one battle nobody can
- "win," really! If you can't arrive
at family agreement. just state
your case" Then ask your dao
and mother to arrive at their de-
j, cision and let you know where you
~ y, stand. Meanwhile, skip the "sneak
- dates" sure to stir trouble for the
I a1 family and you. Most boys anc
- = dads feel, strongly, that more re-
y, ~ spect is felt for the girl who lives
:. - up to family date rules. This
'e makes the boy feel more welcome
once assured that he can feel free
to call for the girl at her home
the only correct starting placs
-. for date.
v IF you are not allowed to date
as early as your friends. can vol
ever catch up?"
Yes. Some, who do not start tc
oe date until late, have that much
er more fun later in teen life. Unit
you can "sell" your protective
= dad and mother on the idea that
you are mature enough for rea
dates. don't waste social time
Search for more friends and grour
activities. Learn to get along with
all kinds Of people. Widen your
interests, broaden your expert.
ences. Studies show that early
dating is more likely to be sue.
cessful if. first, you acquire the
social skills that can make yor