What is a good age to start dating?

We received the question about identifying "what is a good age to start dating?"

Dating starts in adolescence. The desire for others is built then so having the time to explore dating begins as early as middle school.

Dating is also dependent on maturity-can your child activate maturity in ways of how they handle their emotions, and how they interact interpersonally with others?

Each family makes their own decision around dating dynamics and behaviors with their children. We do believe the conversation around dating and interpersonal dynamics needs to be happening between parents and their kids. Teens learn what boundaries are, what is healthy and unhealthy in relationships, and what safe and consensual relationship dynamics are from either observing other relationships or talking with others about it. As uncomfortable as the conversation can be at times, parents need to be having these conversations with their teens. Not just their preferences for their teens, but the facts, the realities, and the opportunities and risks when it comes to dating.

If you want your child to learn healthy relationships and how to develop them, be the teacher and model of that.