How old should you be to date?

[[deleted user]]

I would say serious relationship at least 16. But the partner should be the same age. Until 18/19 they could date somebody a few years older but there shouldn't be any real age gap until 20s I'd say

[Sydney Smile]

Id say this: you shouldn't date until you're mature enough to think about it seriously, with the idea in your head that you might spend the rest of your life with this person in marriage. In other words, up to like 15 you shouldn't date. Once you are like 16 or 17. Even 18. 13 year olds SHOULD NOT DATE. I feel like so many like 13 year olds are already dating and Im just like that's crazy! That's my opinion.

[Fortissimo]

How does courtship and dating differ and what's better?

[Austin, Assistant Mod]

I always viewed courtship as you are looking to see if dating might work out. Like either one of your or both of you are too nervous to say you are officially dating.

That is my opinion.

[Anika (on hiatus)]

I think the intent is that courtship is more serious than dating, that the end goal is marriage instead of more “casual” dating. For me personally though, the intent behind dating is pretty much the same as courtship, as I think it’s stupid to date just to get to know someone. I’d much rather call it dating, maybe I just know the kind of people who call it “courtship”too well? Honestly, saying that you’re courting instead of dating gives a very sheltered homeschooled “I’m 19 and getting married!” vibe that feels really weird to me. (And yes, I say this as a homeschooled person lol)

[Austin, Assistant Mod]

((I think there is above average amount of home schoolers in the group. haha))

[Anika (on hiatus)]

Yeah, probably 😂

[Abby]

I really don’t care or think it matters. Like if you want to date when your 10 go for it. It’s your life.

[char]

Whats funny is that at my school people started dating in 5th grade. No cap

[Abby]

Dating in elementary/ high school is funny but there really isn’t a problem with it.

[[deleted user]]

Ya know...I hate when teens date for the fact of just having fun or wanting to try it out. Because what that trains them, whether they know it or not, but it's training to get into something then get out. They don't learn how to commit. And what happens then is when they get married, they'll stick through it when everything's perfect but as soon is something goes wrong their first instinct is to get out.

[Arianna]

My opinion is you should be at least 16. For one reason, if you want to go on any real dates, then you have to be able to drive. Sure you’re parents could drive you, but then it’s the awkward car ride full of questions. For another reason, kids in elementary school don’t have a very long attention span. They’d date for about five minutes before getting bored. And lastly, 16 is about when you start maturing, and thinking about your future. At 13 (my age), you care about passing math, or annoying your siblings, or hating your parents. Have a boyfriend or girlfriend could be too much. I’ve had many crushes, but I’ve never actually wanted to date any of them. Imagine getting your heart broken at say, 7 or 8. Suddenly, teachers can’t get students to work together, kids don’t want to ever date or get married (not that most would think about this, but when they turn into their preteen and teen years), and any mutual friends would have to pick sides.

[Abby]

It’s a learning experience.

[Arianna]

I’m guessing you’re about 13-15 (don’t start something if that’s wrong, I just guessed), but when you were in elementary school, would you have liked to learn what it was like to suddenly not have friends because they sided with someone else? Or even at a preteen, when you’re mostly focused on having fun, and passing school, do you want to learn that guys can be jerks? (Not saying that girls can’t be jerks, because let’s be honest, we can)

[Abby]

I mean I don’t know about you in elementary school but the drama there was so much higher than high school. And literally all elementary school was was drama and picking sides in arguments losing friends so. I don’t want to date like ever and do not understand dated when you 13,14 etc because people are so dramatic saying it’s meant to be but I don’t care it’s your life your learning experience. And listening to stories of 14 year olds breaking up is kinda funny. And I’m well aware that guys and girls can be jerks but also that teens are hella dramatic.

[MOVED formerly stinky]

So *coughs* my opinion-
So yes I agree 16!
I have dated like 5 people though. (I'm 13)
And I get bad anxiety from it.
Also yes elementary school has a lot of DRAMA but also middle.*Jazz hands*
Ngl In elementary I was the definition of naive.
Like if some kid goes- HeY I'm aCtUaLly A vAmPiRe (or something.)
I would believe it.
Also, I got a lot of toxic friends when I was younger not even realizing it till now.
Now in middle it is not too dramatic because I don't have a lot of friends.
anyways-

[mak ⊹₊⋆]

dating in elementary and middle makes me so sick ngl so like first year of highschool, if ur mature, I think its fine, as long as its not ur whole life to get a so

[mak ⊹₊⋆]

Arianna wrote: "My opinion is you should be at least 16. For one reason, if you want to go on any real dates, then you have to be able to drive. Sure you’re parents could drive you, but then it’s the awkward car r..."

I mean, I guess in ur case u had a rlly different experience, because none of that is true for me lol

[Jamie]

I say when your 15 because then your in highschool by that time so i feel like its a pretty good age to date

[All_Hales , Assistant Mod ~ Books]

At 15 you should be allowed to have a boyfriend/girlfriend. But you probably shouldn't go on actual dates until you're 16 and with your driver's licence.