At what age/grade do you think it's okay to start dating? For the others that are also in high school: When do you want to start a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship? For parents (if there actually are any) : When would you let your child start dating?

I started dating when I was about seventeen.
I've only been with three people.
I'm twenty seven.
I feel whenever you feel you have control over your hormones and feel responsible enough for a relationship, then you are ready.
My son is two, so I'm not thinking about him dating yet.
xD

I can't answer this. There is no answer. There isn't a magic number or age to start dating but it scares me to death, because, sex. Kids are gonna do it and they'll do it before they're really ready I'm just a prudish old lady who has been with the same guy for a decade and was only ever with a few people. So I don't know anything. I'm not even being sarcastic. I'm pretty much a prude. And act about forty years older than I actually am. But I'm glad I don't have kids because they wouldn't be allowed to date. Ever. That's terrible.

Fifteen.

I had my first boyfriend my senior year of highschool. He didn't even go to my school. But then again, the guys at my school thought I was gay so that could have been a factor. Funny story though, he turned out to be gay. *shrug*

No kids for me right now, my fiance and I are still trying to figure out how to take care of ourselves. XD

I started dating when I was 16. Dated the same person on and off since then and I'm 30. Ended up marrying him twice, long story short.

I think that dating shouldn't be rushed. I just waited until someone caught my eye and went for it. It's all what you're comfortable with.

My first girlfriend was at about 17 or 18... I must say starting sooner might have been useful because I had no idea what I was doing...

Phish...I still have no idea what I'm doing.

I'll admit neither do I...

I just pretend and it works well enough. XD

If there actually are any? Ouch. </3

I started dating at 15, and met my husband at 16. We've been together for 13 years now.

I don't mind the idea of my children dating, they're currently too young (9 and 8), but we've discussed it a bit. They don't want to date until they're in their 20's because ew (insert opposite gender) have cooties until then.
I don't think it really has much to do with age though, as opposed to maturity. If you can handle the ups and downs that a relationship will bring, then you may be ready for one, but if your boyfriend not calling at exactly 5 pm every day will tick you off, you're still too immature for one. Never mind the emotional upheavals that will come after you take your relationships to the next levels.

So there isn't really a set age so much as a maturity level that you want to hit.

I believe that it's impossible to actually have an appropriate time to start showing interest in ithers. For some they are mature enough at 16. Others, theyare never mature enough. I know that I, at 17, am not ever ggoing to actually be ready for that kind of commitment. I believe that you shouldn't date unless you are thinking of marriage (old fashioned I know), and that the younger, the worse the idea when it comes to dating. But, to each his own.

I personally know plenty of people creeping up on 30 who are not mature enough to date. I've also known 15 year olds who held reasonable relationships.

I think it's really easy for anyone to think "I'm so mature," but it's emotional maturity that matters. The first thing you've (not meaning you in particular, but the general sort of "you") got to consider is why you want the relationship. A lot of people want one just to have one, or because they think they need someone to be complete, and those are the quickest way to a terrible, unhealthy relationship.

I went and did a card game tournament yesterday and there were two 12 year Olds there. One talked about girls a lot and how he's dated a bunch of girls...

The other was like "I want to finish college first". 7th grader planning to finish college before dating.

pretty sure kid 2 is far more mature than kid 1

Though I wonder if he'll end up throwing that out the window as puberty intensifies. Assuming he's not aromantic, anyway.

That's true. But he was very calm and collected about it. none of that eww girls stuff.

I dunno though I wasn't interested until 17 or so.

I started dating (innocently) in about 7th grade. I had a few boyfriends in 7th and 8th grade, but it wasn't anything sexual other than hand holding and being friends and playing video games. I didn't date anyone Freshman year but I did have some small crushes. Then my summer of Freshman going into Sophmore year, when I was 15 years old, I met my boyfriend that I have now. He was 21 at the time (but I lied about my age, in his defense haha. I did NOT look like an almost 16 year old girl. I looked older so I got away with saying 17 going on 18.) He's been my first and only serious teenage/adult relationship.

I wouldn't recommend finding the love of your life at 15, but for some mature teenage people, it actually works out. Rarely, but it does. I was lucky enough to grow up WITH him, not grow APART from him like many will do. And for this reason, I think starting to date at like 17-18 is wise, and maybe look for serious relationships when you're old enough to know yourself and what you want out of the rest of you life.

It's hard to put an age on that. My mom was one of those "not until late high school" people,
but her strictness just made me hide things from her and sneak around. @__@
I think it's definitely different with each individual and it's something you should be open to talking about.
It's good to guide someone through things instead of making everything black and white.

I had my first physically serious boyfriend at 16, but I had feelings for people and
emotionally intimate relationships much, much earlier than that.

I am not a parent or anything nor have I really
experienced relationships only online ones but, I feel people should start dating in high school
Not Freshman though. More like junior or Senior or Freshman in college.

I never dated in school. It was sort of a prudish thing, but not in a Christian sense; I was into magick at the time. I thought virginity granted you certain powers that were no longer available to you once you had had sex. I had aspirations to be one of those sacred Maidens, like in all the Greek myths.
Well, that, and my dad was a perv and had done some creepy stuff to me, so I was scared of sex.

I still don't really date, per se. I had a BDSM thing going for over a year and we'd actually go out to restaurants and go on vacations and such, so i guess that was dating of a sort. I guess I just never in my craziest imaginings thought of dates ending in bondage and funny costumes. Go fig.

I'm single again at the mo, but I've been starting to put up adverts on dating sites, so maybe i will finally start dating ferreals when I find someone cool to contact.

I had my first "boyfriend" when I was 12; we lived on the same street and went on a date to the movies once, danced at the school dances, and kissed each other on the cheek. Otherwise, we just did our normal stuff of trading pokemon cards and whatnot, lol. We were very much kids still.

As others have said, I don't think there is any magic age when dating suddenly becomes appropriate. Like, I have a niece who is 9, and if she told me she had a boyfriend, I would assume it was a pretty innocent situation and think it was adorable. She's not very romantically inclined though, unlike me, so I kinda doubt she'll date as early as I did. I've had crushes on people literally as far back as I can remember, but I've never known my niece to have a crush on anyone ever. <shrug> I'm pretty sure my brother is going to freak out when she does get interested in dating though.

I had my first boyfriend when I was 18. I waited until I went off to college. Not because I wasn't interested in high school...I just didn't have time. I was too busy living life. Since I started dating, I've had 3 relationships. One that last all during my 18th year. Then I was single again until my final year of college...I went on a few dates but nothing serious happened. After I graduated I was with a guy for two years. We were completely different people and I'm actually quite happy that relationship ended. And now I've been with my current boyfriend for a little over a year. He and I are both music teachers so we get each other XDD I'm interested to see where this relationship goes. It's definitely the best one I've had. :)

I think if you are ready to date, you are ready to date. I don't think there is anythign wrong with having a significant other at a younger age (like in high school). My brother had a girlfriend that lasted from 7th grade through 12 grade (off and on). They didn't end up together but they were a nice couple until the end. It was very innocent even in high school. Some people are ready for it, some aren't. Some people are ready for it but don't care. Some people just don't have the time. I think you just know.

I think there isnt any particular age. When you feel ready, then you should be able to date. I wouldnt hinder my child from dating when they want to, but I would definitely check the person out and see if it was appropriate. Example, A 14 yr old dating a 17 yr old is ok but I would be sure to inform my child of the birds and the bees. And let them make the choice. Love isnt about perfection. It is about growing together. But at the same time, it is hard to pin love at a young age. I dunno, I think I take dating more personal than most people of my generation. XD someone asked me if I date to marry lol. Its like, whut? Dont you date to find love? I dont take dating as a fun thing. I migbt get hurt more this way but so be it.

I didnt have a real boyfriend until 19. I have had play pals in elementary and middleschool but it didnt last long. I think I got bored of them? LOL i was too young to care for dating as a kid. And in highschool, I just didnt even care since it was the same kids ive been with. No chemistry or interest either. Im still dating the same guy since 19 and its only been 2 years.

We have no idea about dating and stuff so it has been a journey for both of us. I hope..haha

Hope you can find the answer! Parents tend to be overprotective and want to prevent harmful mistakes but its the childs life and they have every right to experience and understand those heartbreaks and/or the wonderful moments no mattee what age. Its all about mental maturity.

I think when you get in a right set of mind, you should date. And what i mean by that is not thinking this. " Oh he is so hot i could do him!" " Ugh i just need a boyfriend before i end up forever alone!" People ( younger teens) Who think like that, to me doesn't need a partner. Because to me that sounds like you are just looking for someone to have "fun" with. But if you are mature enough to see a future with this person and vice versa for said person then i think you are ready to date. Because in that situation you know you guys didn't break up ( If you break up) for something petty. BUT IF I did have to pick a mature age to date i would say 17+ BUT It depends on the person and how mature that person is as a individual.