
Why early dating is not always the best for your children?
Dating is a word that adults would always associate with going to dinner with someone and then evaluating if that person is a good match for them based on several factors. When it comes to children, dating can be something much more innocent, but at the same time, children today have so much information at their disposal that they can easily try to do things like adults.
The biggest concern with this type of behavior is that children may be aware of the process of dating, but their minds are still not able to comprehend many aspects of human interaction. This is the reason why we strongly recommend that you evaluate your child’s emotional intelligence before you decide to let them go on dates with other children.
What is the average age that is socially acceptable for dating?
There are different types of social rules in all regions of the world and what we see as acceptable in some areas is completely unacceptable in others.
With that said, the most relevant thing to remember is that we are basing this on standards for the Western world and it is usually seen as acceptable for two teenagers over the age of 15 to start dating.
This is what is known as a teenager and not a child any longer, but children today as starting to date as early as ten to twelve years of age.
This is still an age group that is considered to be children, and you need to make sure that your child is aware of the importance of growing a bit older before starting to date people.
The influence of social media in children
Social media can be a very positive influence in children, but it can also be a negative one. There are many children who go on social media and some of the things they read, see, and hear can revolve around dating and similar topics that have an adult audience.
These platforms are often a place that revolves around the interactions between men and women. If a child is inclined to want to learn more about those topics, they could join groups and check.
This is the kind of social interaction that can lead your child to feel an urgency to start dating. When that happens you need to get more involved with your child. Ask your kid what they think about dating and what they expect to get out is that experience.
One of the best ways to determine if your child is ready to go on dates is to analyze how they behave at home and with friends. For example, if your child is easily annoyed and has a short temper, it is very unlikely that their ability to handle a date with another child is going to be optimal
Children who tend to have problems accepting any kind of constructive criticism, or children who get mad over anything that does not go their way are better off not dating until they are mature enough to handle this activity.
Why should children avoid dating all together?
Most adults have told younger people to enjoy their childhood and to forget about the many complications that come with adulthood. This is the kind of advice that children are unlikely to take unless you can explain the reason behind your reasoning.
Children think that being a child is not “cool” and they want to grow up faster because they believe that adults have more interesting lives. It is your responsibility as a parent to discuss the many ups and downs of adulthood.
Let them know that dating often leads to other responsibilities as an adult and show them how easily their lives can become complicated. Show them how being young is such a valuable time and that rushing their way out of childhood is not going to be the best idea in most cases.
If there is one thing that many adults regret is that they didn’t allow themselves to enjoy their youth. The biggest concern in this type of situation is that many children are not going to be able to deal with rejection even in their teens.
When children start dating, they are going to be exposed to the possibility of heartbreak. This is very important because it is more likely that heartbreak will affect each person in many ways and the younger someone is, the harder the heartbreak is going to feel.
This is one of the main reasons why it is not recommended that children start dating because the heartbreak they are likely to experience is going to make them fearful of starting new relationships in the future.
The level of emotional trauma when someone rejects another person for any reason is going to depend on the level of maturity of each person. This is a very complex topic, but generally speaking the lack of emotional intelligence to handle heartbreak is the most damaging aspect of early dating.
How to help your child gain strengthen their self-esteem
If you feel that your child is having a hard time letting go of the idea of dating, you may want to strengthen their self-esteem by showing them their value as individuals. Once they are able to gain a sense of self-worth, they will be more likely to handle any kind of rejection once they get involved in a relationship.
It is often said that people who do the dumping in relationships are the ones who are secure about themselves, and those who are dumped are the ones who lack self-worth. There is a lot of truth in this kind of statement and you should make your child feel important and valued if you want your child to value himself or herself.
Once this happens, there will be extremely positive results and your child is going to be able to handle relationships with other people much better. Not just for dating purposes, but for any kind of social interaction.
Final thoughts
The moment when you child can start dating is going to depend on many factors, so always be mindful of your child’s maturity and evolution as an individual in order to make the right.