This is so bizarre and gross to me. Why are you encouraging your child to do this?

My kid that she has been on one date with her “boyfriend.” It was to get boba tea after school at a place that’s near their school. 4 of their friends went with them.

Ha. My 12 year old has a ‘girlfriend’. Their relationship appears to consist entirely of very vanilla texts. They are both happy with this. I think it’s hysterical and very middle school. I’m not about to encourage anything further.

Mall. Bubble tea. One of those sushi track restaurants if they like sushi (cheap and doesn’t feel fancy which seems inappropriate for 13). Roller skating

Agree the malls and town centers, or even a strip mall with a stop at someplace like Cal Tort, Shake Shack, etc. My teen son even went to clothes shopping places with his girlfriend which I found hilarious. He came home with a new pair of pants which he actually needed.

I think movies are another option. They don’t seem to do the more organized things we did like mini golf, ice skating, etc.

At that age, my kids did group dates/hangouts at the movies, bowling, going to a diner.

But if they are not motivated to come up with a plan, i wouldn’t plan it for them. What they’re doing now is totally appropriate.

Anonymous wrote:Most young teens aren't dating. I think 13 is too young to be dating.

And certainly too young to be worried about “fitting dating into their busy schedules.” What in the fresh hell?

Most young teens aren't dating. I think 13 is too young to be dating.

Anonymous wrote:Town centers — I live in Loudoun and walking around Village at Leesburg is popular with middle schoolers.

OP and we're in Loudoun too, pretty close to the villages - thanks!

Anonymous wrote:What kinds of things would she like to do? Bowling? Trampoline park? Rock climbing? Trapeze school? Ice skating? Biking? Hiking? Movies?

These plus attending each other’s sporting events. And not really “dates” — more like hanging out in-person rather than electronically, which we have tried to encourage regardless of it’s a “love” interest.

Also, and not sure if it’s in your circle, but church is another option. Ours have used the opportunity to see and be exposed to a variety of faiths and observances, some that appealed to them, others that didn’t.

What kinds of things would she like to do? Bowling? Trampoline park? Rock climbing? Trapeze school? Ice skating? Biking? Hiking? Movies?

Town centers — I live in Loudoun and walking around Village at Leesburg is popular with middle schoolers.

Strip club

OP. Forgot to mention I would probably lightly supervise but mostly let them do their own thing

13y DD has had a boyfriend for about 4 months. They text a little, hangout at school a lot, but really not much more than that. He's invited her to a couple activities of his that she goes to, neither have been to each other's houses. Recently, DD's expressed interest in possibly going on a date, but doesn't know where to go (ik y'all will she needs to figure this out and not ask me for advice, but she's not very social and doesn't hang out with her friends much outside of school, so isn't really up-to-date on where all the hangout spots are. We live in a suburban/rural part of Northern Virginia, they live 30 minutes apart, no local malls. Where are your young teens going on fun dates, and how do they work dating into their already busy schedules full of sports and ECs?