What is the Right Age for Dating?

You might be asking yourself this one question over and over again. “How old should you be to have a girlfriend or a boyfriend”? Dating customs have been changing with time. The average age for a first date is thirteen for boys and twelve for girls. Yes, dating starts early these days.

This article will help you understand what is the best age to start dating. So if you want to know whether or not you are ready to date, you should ask yourself some questions.

Are You Ready?

Ask yourself whether or not you are ready for dating. Since you may have strict parents or some religious or cultural practices that prohibit dating, the answer to this question is crucial. Evaluate all the consequences of your dating. It is not a cakewalk. You have to be mature to handle the ups and downs of a relationship. If you feel you can handle it, you are ready to date.

Why Do You Need A Partner?

Ask yourself why you need a girlfriend or a boyfriend. If the answers are convincing enough to you, then you should go ahead. Don’t rush into a relationship just because it seems fun. No matter what age you are, you should always ask yourself why you need to have a partner.

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Define What Dating Means To You

You should be very clear about your dating situation. Do you want something serious or are you looking for a fling? Decide what you want out of a relationship. If you want to settle down and get married to someone, having a girlfriend or boyfriend sounds like a good idea. This way you can get to know them. But if you want to know a bunch of people before settling down, you can go out on multiple dates.

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Do You Have Time To Date

Before you start dating, you should also check whether or not you have time for a relationship. If you have a lot of school work or are swamped with files from your office, dating should be put on hold. You will be wasting your time as well as the other person’s time too.

Talk To Your Friends And Family

Talking about important things can help you in more ways than you can imagine. You get a clear picture and see things from other person’s point of view. Sometimes your friends and family know better than you. They know what is best for you. Talk to them about your desires and expectations, and take their advice into consideration. They will never give you a wrong piece of advice.

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Teenage Love

Teenage love needs a special mention here. Since this article is about the right age to start dating, we need to talk about teenage dating. People usually start dating when they are in their teenage years. This is the reason why it is called "Teenage Love". Adults usually have a cynical view of teenage love. They see it as if it is a chemical imbalance. They think teenage love as a result of raging hormones. But this is not true. Teenagers can fall in love and end up getting into serious relationships that is more than just a physical intimacy. Parents should understand their child’s first relationship and support them. It is never wise to ridicule your child’s first relationship.

More On: Is Teenage The Most Difficult Period in One's Life?

You Decide  

The right age to start dating is when you know you can handle being with another person, when you know you are liable for their emotions as well. The right age for you to start dating is not when your friends force you to date, but it is when you decide that you are ready.

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Liked what you read? Let us know what you think is the right age to start dating. Comment below in the section.

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