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when should you start dating?? can 12 yr olds date?? if yes, how to convince your parents??

There’s no one age when people “should” start dating  — plenty of people don’t start until their late teens or after, and some people start earlier. But dating when you’re 12 means something different than dating when you’re in high school or older. At 12, going out in groups is a lot more common — and can probably be a lot easier and more fun, too  — than going out with just one other person on a DATE-date. If you want to go out with someone, try hanging out with a bunch of your mutual friends. It’ll probably feel less nerve-wracking for both of you.

Plus, chances are your parents will be more okay with the idea of you going out with a group than on a one-on-one date.

And kudos to you for wanting to initiate the dating conversation with your parents. Let your parents know you’re thinking about dating — and maybe even that there’s someone you have a crush on and want to ask out. If they freak out, let them know you’re open to talking about rules and boundaries for this stuff — for instance, that you’ll always be hanging out with groups of other people, and you’ll always tell them honestly about where you’re going and who will be there. Your parents might even have some helpful advice about dating.

Tags: relationships, parents, dating, middle school

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