And our last question tonight: Is it healthy for teens to start dating so young?
Define “young.”
The reason I ask is that I can’t fully answer the question without understanding what “dating” means in this context. Dating at a young age could mean learning how to socially interact, or it could mean being in an exclusive relationship that involves physical and emotional bonding.
Yes, that can be risky—but it doesn’t have to be. If I’m simply interacting with someone I’m interested in, is that dating? We first need to define what dating actually means.
Are teens spending too much time alone together? That could be concerning. But another important factor is that children need to develop social skills. They need to interact in positive ways.
This is quite different from when I was younger. Research by Jean Twenge in her book iGen suggests that this generation is actually having less sex than previous generations. Adolescents today are more likely to spend time with their parents than with their peers.
I’m a strong advocate for helping young people develop social skills. One-on-one situations may be different, but learning how to communicate, have meaningful conversations, and navigate social interactions is incredibly valuable.
We should help them understand appropriate boundaries and address the fears often associated with dating—especially the concern about sexual activity.
A more productive approach is to educate them about themselves, help them establish healthy boundaries, and develop meaningful relationship skills.
In the long run, focusing on these skills will likely be far more impactful than simply setting rigid rules about when they can or cannot date. Encouraging group activities, social interaction, and communication skills will lead to more positive outcomes over time.
