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Why the heck not? I mean, it's dating. It's not sex, it's not marriage, it's dating. It's harmless. Most people know have had boyfriends and girlfriends since elementrary school.

I use to think it was alright to just date around but not anymore. There's just too much tempation with it. I use to date around but after awhile it was more of I needed a guy to be ok and that's just not cool. THen I got into God and stuff and I couldn't handle a relationship with God and a guy. And if I had both I'd let my God relationship suffer before the guy because he was who I loved physically. Now I have a guy I like and he likes me back, we aren't dating right now. I think if you are going to date it should be to date with marriage in mind. That's not saying have sex but to not just date around and have fun. Really think if this is going to be the person you are going to marry and want a life with. See I'll never get back my first kiss, my first date, my first hand holding...Or any of that and all that happened in a relationship that wasn't centered around God...So no, I don't think high school kids should date. But that's my beliefs.

My niece so isn't dating until she is at least 18...Maybe 17 >.

If my mom had it her way, I "won't date anyone until after I'm married," as she put it, lol.

And by going out, what do you mean? One-on-one dating? Group dates? Hanging out with co-ed friends?

I'm 16, and have done all of the above late into the night without any problems. I set my limits and there are simply things I don't do. I've had the opportunity to get drunk, do drugs, smoke cigarettes, have sex, vandalize property... but I didn't. I never even came close. In my opinion, I don't think most parents give us enough credit when it comes to making major decisions.

Now I'm not saying that every teenager in the nation should be able to "go out" based on previous exhibitions of character and judgement. For example, although I might be fine to go out until the wee hours of the morning, that doesn't mean that everyone my age, or even older, should be afforded the same privilege. It's a case-by-case decision. I'll admit having not always made great judgement calls, but I have always tried to use common sense and set my limits when I go out.

On the subject of boy- and girlfriends in elementary school... pfft. That doesn't count. I find it funny that when 10-year-olds say they "go out" with someone, they don't actually GO anywhere. So yeah. In my experience, people don't really start getting into serious relationships until high school, because that's when we really start thinking like, "Do I think that I might still be with this person in 5 years? 10? 20?"

I don't think that graduation from high school should be a requirement when it comes to going out, because that's not how we work. If you trust that your son or daughter will not go out and be stupid with that freedom, I think that it would be fine to give said freedom to them.

Yes, Fast Lane Angel, I mean one-on-one dating. I personally believe that there shouldn't be any teen dating before high school. I mean, I'm not saying this happens to all couples, but some people set boundries and still go a step farther than what they thought they would. I mean, there's just so much temptation around us, and sometimes kids like to "blend in." You know what I mean? So, I just think it's a lot safer to not go out at all before high school.

Yes, I agree with Skiddishfit sort of...I mean, what if the parents and the kid think that they're mature when they're...in first grade, for example? One of my best friends started going out when she was in first grade and she's a very mature girl. She's had I think over 20 boyfriends by now. And she's been through all that holding hands and kissing and all that stuff, I mean, come on! You're only a teenager! Do you really need to "get to know" your friends that much?

And especially in high school, that's like where you need to focus all your studies and everything and it's very stressful. Do you really need to add more stress by thinking about what to do with your boy/girl friend, how to handle things with them and everything like that? I would just hate that.

So guys, feel free to reply back. I'm hoping to get some good debates going!

Why would a first grader need a boyfriend in the first place, where would they go out, and exactly what would they do? Sorry that just sounds weird. But in high school you should be focused on building a strong relationship with God instead of worrying about some guy or girl (for the guys out there worrying about dating). What good is a relationship if you can stand strong in God and share that?

I mean when I was in first grade, I was seriously already kissing boys but I didn't go [out] or [date]....However I've never ["been"] with a guy just to clear that up. But I mean I've kissed and made out with guys and slept in the same bed with guys since I was like 7 years old....And now...I don't regret it but I know how much more meaningful it would have been if I would have waited when it was with a guy that I was in a relationship with which was centered around GOd.