Should a 14 year old be able to date?

In my opinion that is too young. Having a crush or girl he hangs out with at school is fine. Things run a natural course and it is at this age where boys start to develop feelings for girls.

The next step is double dating. When he is 16 and able to drive a car it would be good and social for him to go out with a girl and another couple. Or a group of friends. Then make the progression to regular dating.

Instate a curfew and make him follow it. You really shouldn't have to worry much since he can't drive her really can't date and he'll slowly make the path to dating as he gets older.

Dating is fine for a "responsible" 14-year old. People today generally prohibit their younger kids from dating because they don't "trust" them. Those people will of course tell you they don't trust the "other" kids, but they really don't trust their own. What they're telling their kids is anybody's guess.

You should lay down the rules in advance with an understanding that if your young teen breaks the rules there will be a penalty that could include no more dating for 6 months to a year. The dating rules should incorporate where he can go on dates, the minimum age of the girl or girls he can date, and most important the requirement for you to meet the girl in person before any dating takes place. The first time, let him invite the girl over to watch a DVD movie on TV or something like that. Be around but don't be intrusive. Talk to the girl a little but remember, she's there to keep company with your son.

You can even have your son sign a copy of the rules. Not that it's legally enforceable, but it will give him a basic understang of signed agreements and some psychologists seem to think that works with kids.

When parents don't permit their kids to date at a younger age, the only perception the child picks up is that his parents don't trust him or her. That in itself can cause them to engage in negative behaviors since their "parents don't trust them anyway."

If your son was the sex-crazed, crystal-meth consuming, freak many people seem to think 14-year olds all are, then it wouldn't matter whether or not you permitted him to date, he'd be tagging girls in the school bathroom during recess.

Single dating is fine; as is double or group dating, but the bottom line consideration is the values and ethics your kids have learned from you. If your son can believe you trust him, he is more likely to come to you with questions and or problems with dating. I have seen lots of parents involved in their kids' dating behavior and it worked out just fine.

If you prohibit your son from dating, you should have a very specific reason that allows for some way he can work to overcome your prohibition. Just telling kids they're "too young" is about the worst thing you can do since they obviously see other kids much younger than themselves dating. If he can't date at 14, why would you let him date at 16? Is there supposed to be some mysterious process that changes him significantly in two years? Better to let him start younger when he's more apt to honor the rules you lay down.

Depending on the values you teach your kids, they may or may not have sex whether it's on a date or under the bleachers at a school football game. The only way to protect against the potential consequences of unprotected sex is to teach your son how to have protected sex. He just has to understand that knowing how is not a reason in itself to do it.

This answer was edited by ldsch 202 days ago.

Reason: Correct a typo

If your fourteen year old is responsible, mature, and trustworthy then there is no reason why they should not be able to date.

I do not think a 14 year old is mature enough to date. With peer pressure the way it is today it will not be long before he/she will be faced with more adult situations. My daughter is not allowed to date until she is 17. She started giving her phone number out after she turned 16. We decided to this would give her a year of learning how to say NO to a boy. She came up to me a few days ago and told me that now she understands why we have done it this way. It also gives an out for her when her friends push her (and they do) about her not having sex. As my grandmother always says "with a son you only have to worry about one boy in the county with a daughter you have to worry about EVERY boy in the county".

Sorry to discredit but most 6 year old girls can not get pregnant. because the girl has to start menstrating before she can become pregnant. Mentstration starts around age ten and up. Unless a rare medical anomally happens.

Teenage pregnancy is on the rise because of lack of education, improper birth control measures, ( such as the morning after pill not being in place for emergencies, and lack of education and getting up to speed on the parents part.

This is 2008 and as a parent you should talk to you daughters about sex when they first get their period, this could be as early as 10, and you should talk to you sons when you start to see them in pubirty as well.

education is key.

I HONESTLY THINK A FOURTEEN YEAR OLD SHOULD BE ABLE TO DATE BECAUSE maybe they might not seem mature to you but maybe they have feelings for that person, and knowing they are going to do it neways! why not now it is a little young but im young to so maybe thats why im saying this!

I think that they should. 14 is plenty old enough to date.

look at Ali Lohan (Yes, that is Lindsey Lohan's little sis), she is 14 and has her own reality TV show "Living Lohan" already. I bet she is dating.

http://www.alianalohan.com/

This answer was edited by Fakery 192 days ago.

Reason: added Lindsey

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idk what ur thinking everyone should b able to choose when they wanna date if u want to get thier hearts broken when thier older then wait but its a really good idea to let them have their lil sweethearts and boyfriends when thier young like in the 6th grade cause it really doesnt mean anything but itll help them in the future cause if they start dateing someone when their older and they get to relly really get into them and like them like more than ever till they think theve just fallen in love and thats real easy to do when u start dateing and if they break up then they could get really depressed mabe even suicidle ive watched it happen to 3 of my friends before and many others ... 14 is not the rite age to let them start the best age is when ur really young so u can learn to deal with break ups, jerks, cheating, and the pain, confusions will happen in evey relaionship but if ur whoever is already 14 u may want them to start haveing their little boyfriends and girlfriends it will help them a whole lot with matureing and it would be really sweet watching them groww up from shy to in love really ive seen a 15 year old fall in love her and my cuzion fell in love and have been dating almost 4 years now and seriously if ur not letting them have gfs or bfs at least at age 12 then its not ganna turn out as well as u had planned

O wait nvm if u dnt want them doing that stuff then all u have to do is dont talk with the girl talk with the guy and stuff my mom has done it several times with my sister but the story above is very true