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Dating 101
Pre-dating Rituals for Young Teens
By Sharon Waldrop
Nancy Klotzsche of Lake Arrowhead, California feels that 16 is an acceptable age to begin dating. She has two teenagers under the age of 16 who are not yet allowed to date, but can invite members of the opposite sex to family outings.
"Last summer my son invited a girl to spend the day at the beach with our family," Nancy says. "I was present, yet I gave them space."
Nancy also allows her young teens to participate in group events as an alternative to dating. A group of boys and girls gathering together for a movie or party is a common pre-dating activity. However, she is comfortable with the party situation only if she knows the parents of the teen having the party, or a friend, can act as a reference. Since Nancy lives in a small town, it's likely that she would know the other parent or someone who does – a big advantage to living in a small town with no street lights nor door-to-door mail delivery.
Nancy adds, "Since my teens can't drive yet, I have control of where they go and who they see."
Most likely, a teen's first few crushes will come and go as fast as the latest box office hit. A relationship between a young couple is often a casual one, and there shouldn't be any emphasis on a long-term commitment. November is not the time to discuss Easter plans together with two teens. Your savings account interest should be applied toward college tuition, not wedding bells.