Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Group dates freshmen year of high school, driven by a parent and not another teen.

Solo dates at 16, given the driving requirements are met.

If not, still mom/dad drop off and pick up.

One need not have a driver's license in order to date.

No, but if you live in the suburbs, you need to have a license to get to the movies without mom or dad dropping you off.

Anonymous wrote:16 year old daughter is allowed to go on group outings with boys and girls from her grade. These kids hang out and have a great time. She is not allowed to date though. Thankfully she is in a very challenging academic program and none of her peers have any time to date. Even the group outings have to be planned weeks in advance so they can finish their assignments etc. The joy of MCPS magnet programs!

I wouldn't have an issue with this, just not a one on one date.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My oldest will be 15 next month. I'd be fine with this, but would wonder where he's getting the money. I don't think I'd pay foe dinner and a movie. Movie maybe.

My son doesn't work, so this is something I question too!

If he is old enough to date, he is old enough to earn some money to go out.

My 15yo son does dog-walking and yard work for spending money.

Anonymous wrote:Group dates freshmen year of high school, driven by a parent and not another teen.

Solo dates at 16, given the driving requirements are met.

If not, still mom/dad drop off and pick up.

One need not have a driver's license in order to date.

I went by maturity rather than physical age. One daughter was ready at 14 (9th grade) and I let her say yes to a boy in 10th grade (he'd been asking since 9th grade). The other daughter wasn't mature enough even at 16 and a half.

When I was growing up, my father said I could date anyone I wanted until I was 24. (pause for effect) Then he would stop coming with me.

15 seems fine for a date/outing like this and it is good he asked you. Shutting him down, as others have noted, is note likely to stop him from dating but it is likely to stop him from telling you. Kids often will go to movies together but break off from their group with their "boyfriend" and unless you are there to monitor, it is hard to control (and I assure you at 15 you are not going to be welcome to monitor and if you try to do so covertly you are a total loser). Same is true when they hang out with friends or spend time together after school etc. 15 is a good age to let them have more space and to trust and guide them without controlling them.

I permitted my kids to begin dating at 16, but most of them waited until their senior year of HS or later. They enjoyed dating in college.

15 is fine.

16 year old daughter is allowed to go on group outings with boys and girls from her grade. These kids hang out and have a great time. She is not allowed to date though. Thankfully she is in a very challenging academic program and none of her peers have any time to date. Even the group outings have to be planned weeks in advance so they can finish their assignments etc. The joy of MCPS magnet programs!

I think it sounds nice. At 15 I frequently went shopping, movies and dinners as dates.