The definition of a relationship is often referred to as the way in which two people are connected, or at the state of being connected. In my personal opinion adolescents should not be allowed to date until they are old enough to understand what an actual relationship endures. Teenagers should not be able to date until the age of fifteen because of their maturity level, peer pressure in school, and being too self-centered.

To be in a relationship, the two people have to realize that a partnership will only survive long-term if they are each willing to work with each other and make compromises. This requires a certain maturity level. It has been substantiated that girls mature faster than boys. Boys typically do not mature until the age of fifteen or sixteen. I believe dating in middle school is a terrible idea. When children are in middle school they are not yet fully developed, and this may make for a short lived relationship. Since children have not yet matured they have trouble communicating with one another. I have seen multiple relationships fail over thoughtless arguments that could have been resolved if those involved had communicated better. As a result, adolescents generally have trouble communicating, and adding a relationship on top of that very often creates discord.

Additionally, peer pressure is one reason teenagers should not date until the age of fifteen. In middle school numerous dating relationships begin because of their surrounding peers starting to date. This is less likely to happen when an older teenager dates. Adolescents have a deep ceded need to be accepted and to fit in with a social group at school. Younger teens will go out with and then drop an individual if other people do not deem them popular enough. I recall some of my peers dating back in middle school and none of those relationships survived to high school age. I believe this is because their relationships were not based on love or compassion, but based on other people’s opinions.

Furthermore, when children are in middle school they constantly think about themselves and are incredibly self-centered. Being self-absorbed can lead an individual into not thinking about the other person in the relationship. If you do not consider or support the other person in the relationship, it is destined to fail. In a successful relationship the two people have to equally consider the other person as well as themselves. Communication and respect are crucial to a healthy relationship. When children are middle school age, they should focus on their school work and further develop as an individual before beginning a relationship.

Consequently, I believe adolescents should wait to begin dating until the age of fifteen because they will be less likely to conform to peer pressure, have learned to regard others as they do themselves, and have had time to mature.  Adolescents must realize what couples go through and how difficult a partnership can be before they start to date.