They don’t really give parents any handbooks out at the hospital when their children are born. Each year of a child’s life is unique and requires different levels of attention. One of the most difficult things for parents in the 21st century, is deciding when their teenage daughters should be allowed to date. You could ask this question in any local restaurant or online forum and you would get an extreme wide range of different answers. There really isn’t a true age for girls to begin dating. A lot depends on the female teenager her self and which boy she wants to go out with. In most cases, it is common for 2 teenage girlfriends to go out on a double date with other boys for their first few dates. This usually helps to relieve a lot of the dating pressures for girls and their over worried and very stressed parents.

For the record, I don’t have a daughter. I think if I did, I would probably lose her in those teen years. I would imagine I would be very strict and not sure I could ever let her date while still being in her teen years. Perhaps after 21 we could talk, but not a minute sooner. No matter what the age may be, at some point parents do have to let go and trust their daughters and this must be a very difficult thing to do. I don’t have to worry about this anytime soon (knock on wood), but thought maybe I could help and give an objective opinion on the subject, as someone who hasn’t got a personal interest in the matter or subject of teen dating. I’m sure if I go too low, the teen daughters everywhere will be saving my blog post and showing it to Moms and Dads everywhere. On the flip side, if I go too high on my age of acceptability for teen girls dating; then the parents are the ones saving my blog post to show to their loving daughters.

So here goes my views on teenage girls dating. No girl 13 years or younger should ever be left alone with young people. The rare sleepovers or visits to a female friend’s house, where you fully trust every member of your daughter’s friend is acceptable.

Girls 14 and 15 years old. I know I am probably about to scare a few parents out here, but listen first. I could see some unique situations, where I think it would be acceptable for a 14 or 15 year-old girl to go out on a date. If she was taken a female friend along with her, who you knew and trusted. If she was leaving your house with an adult driver, who is the parents of the young boy she is dating, then I could start to see a date happening here. A simple date to the movies or out-to-eat; where you as the parent would have the luxury of going out and driving by to see if the car your daughter left in, was indeed at these locations. If the boy’s parent or parents were going to be eating with them or watching a movie with them; then she wouldn’t have to be on a double date or have a female friend. This is going on the assumption I know the boy and the parents and knew them for a year or longer. No new boys or parents popping out of the blue would be acceptable. So dating is possible at the very young age of 14 for a girl, but having to be closely monitored and driven by an adult you have known for 1 year or longer. No way does 14 and 15 qualify for a date with a teenage driver and going out for a few hours on a Friday or Saturday evening.

Girls at 16. This is the most common dating age in America. Most parents allow it at this age, since their daughters will start driving. I don’t think we should raise our kids by government and state laws. We can let our children drive cars and go out with their female friends, while still preventing them from dating. Let’s just say all options are on the table. If your daughter has done something for you to lose trust in her or there is a young boy calling or going out with your daughter you don’t have the highest regards for or trust. Then you do have the right to say no, even at the age of 16.

Girls 17 are much tougher to keep away from dating. Just like with unique situations for 14 year old girls being allowed to date. I can see these same unique situations keeping a 17 year old girl at home with Mommy and Daddy every weekend.

Those 18 and 19 years can be a rough time for parents. Again, I don’t think laws should go with raising our children. The law may recognize my daughter as an adult, but I will be sure to let my daughter know, I am her law and a much more powerful law; than what she might think is the law. I would be willing to put my foot down here and keeping it down, until I was carried off to jail. I think there are times you have to make a point and when it’s for the love of your children, no laws or nothing will stop you.

Those are my ages for girls who are seeking to go out on a date. The rules are pretty much the same for the boys, but I think most of us can see, why it’s a little different for the young men compared to the young ladies. Before you comment on my view of boys and dating, be sure to read the first part of that sentence first. I believe the rules are the same for both genders, but a few things here and there, do make it a little (not a lot) just a little different.