Take into account their emotional development and feeling of responsibility. For many children, the age of 16 appears to be reasonable, but it may be totally okay for a mature 15-year-old to go on a date, or to make your immature 16-year-old wait a year or two. You should also think about what other parents are doing. If most of their friends' kids are going on dates at that age, then there's no harm in it for them. The age of consent in each state varies, so check out the laws in your state to find out what they are. Many states set the age at 16, some allow people under 18 to marry with parental consent, and others don't have an age limit at all. The only safe option is if you ask your child what they want to do. If they say yes, give them time and space to change their mind later if they need to.