Parents: What age would you let your children date?

Question

How old are they now? Also, if you had one child who got Cs and Ds and one child who got As and the occassional B, would you let one date before you let the other? On a scale of 1-10, how strict are you? Why did you rate yourself this way?
(The third question is just to find out if you're stricter or more relaxed than my parents, so plase be honest)

Answer 1

I'm a parent.. and i seem to continue to answer your questions.

I'm OLD.. talking fify.. so that is ancient to you, but the truth is, i don't feel much different than when i was a kid -- just know a little more these days.

Dating? Well, i will be quite honest and tell you i started dating at 16. I had a lot of freedom at 15. I wasn't mature enough to have either privilege at those ages... i drank, hung out with the wrong people and dated bad boys. It was because i was raised in an environment where i was made to feel crappy about myself... nothing more or less!

I suppose that, if i were raised in a different type of household, where i was encouraged supported instead of being put down all the time, i might have been more mature at 15 and 16.

I had two sons, and now they are 31 and 20, so i guess they are old enough to date...

Both dated at 16, by the way, and they were a lot more responsible than i was at that age... because i loved them and supported them in their efforts.. complimented them and made sure they felt good about themselves.

I think that kids who have self respect are quite prepared to date at 16...

one of my kids was an honor role student, the other struggled... they were different, and one had a hard time with reading and dyslexia... i think parents who have kids with "bad grades" aren't paying attention. sometimes kids have learning disabilities or feel overwhelmed by everything they have to learn and just give up! there is help out there!

i would have rated myself as an 8 on the strictness scale, because i didn't put up with much crap.. but i was a good mom... how do i know?? both my kids have told me they wouldn't trade me for any other mom anywhere in the world since they've grown up.

that's my two cents.

Answer 2

I let my daughters group date when they were 15 years old. They were allowed to date when 16 with a parent taking and picking up at their destination, car date when 17. All three were treated the same. Two were A students, the other was a B/C student. All three had curfews and had to be home by 11:00 pm. until they were 17 years of age. Midnight curfew when they were 18 years old. They also had to maintain a good grade average or they had to bring the grades up and had limited going with friends until they had good grades. No teen needs to be out any later as too many accidents happen after midnight. Their father is a retired traffic officer. All three daughters are adults now. How strict was I? Probably more strict than most parents and a 9. All I know is my daughters have children now and understand why their parents were the way we were with rules and exercise the same rules in their households.

Answer 3

No earlier than 16! And that is ONLY if they were extremely responsible!

As far as the grades goes ... This is much more than a question of A's and B's! This has to do with effort and your childs own ability. I would rather have a hard working child who got C's than a lazy one that got A's. But children are different. A lot of people don't like this answer but you cannot raise all children the same way. Let the childs intelligence (not smartnest) and responsiblity be your guide.

I would rate myself a 8 1/2 because I am very old school and the BAD _SS kids I see today normally have very lose guidelines.

Answer 4

I'm strict. C's and D's are not acceptable grades in our home.
If you bring home bad grades you need to study...not date.

My children are 15, 13 & 10 and they can begin to date at 16 with restrictions and a curfew. A lot will depend on who, what, when and where. Each event will be judged individually. And yes, grades will figure in!!

On a scale of 1 - 10 I am around an 8 or so.

Answer 5

I think 13-14 if its just going to be at school things and 15-16 for out of school, go to movies kind of stuff. If one child got As and Bs and another got Cs and Ds I would still let them date the same time, maybe the one struggling needs some help at school.

Answer 6

Actual dating: 16
However, I would allow her to go to school dances with friends and a "date" before that. But that's not really dating - more like hanging out with a designated dancing partner.
I expect no less than A's and B's (unless there is a good reason for a poor grade-besides lack of effort) so yes I would allow one child to date before the other if they had better grades.
I'm about an 8. I have my rules and I do not tolerate disobedience or insolence.

Answer 7

My daughter is 17 and my son is 15. I dont force good grades on my kids as long as I know they are doing their best. My daughter can date at 16 but chooses not to. My son has to be alot more mature before he'll be let loose. Also when my daughter does go out she has an 11 pm curfew unless it is for an event that lasts later than that. I trust my children . So far they havent made me think I cant trust them.oh yeah as far as strict goes 5/6

Answer 8

I could date when I was 16 but I was a A/B student. My daughter will have the same rules.

I think that I am a 7.5 on the strict scale but my daughter is 7 so I don't have to enforce it yet.

Answer 9

13

Answer 10

16 at the EARLIEST. I'm 16 now and I wouldn't start dating now. I'd let the A and B kid date before the C and D kid...I'm about an 8, I am pretty strict.