by Maris Laughton
Elementary school students walk in single-file lines and play games at recess. But imagine some of those kids holding hands in the hallway and at recess, not because they were told to pick a buddy, but because they are dating.
This “holding hands” act can start as young as fourth grade.
“My brother dated in fourth grade,” said freshman Leia Owen. “He would take his girlfriend to the movies and Roller Kingdom and places like that… without parents.”
In this case, the couple actually went places, but in almost all other cases they will just say they are dating. This occurs from fourth grade to about seventh, and by the time you get to eighth grade, if you haven’t dated or kissed anyone yet you were considered weird.
I am currently a freshman and have never had a boyfriend and have never kissed anyone. Whenever my friends find out whom I like, they will say things like “Ask him out!” or “You two would make a great couple.” But I’m not even allowed to date. Everyone tells me that it’s stupid I can’t date because I am in high school, but I don’t mind.
My mom is protective and says dating isn’t worth it until I’m at least 16. I don’t necessarily agree with her, but she is my mom and I need to follow her rules.
Sometimes my peers will try to pressure me into dating, but it never works. Unfortunately, many young kids fall into the trap of peer pressure and trying to fit in.
Madison Polomarenko, a sixth grader at JFK Middle School, started dating in fifth grade. She has only had one boyfriend, whom she is currently dating, but has been on multiple dates with him. Many of her friends had or have boyfriends, too.
“I’m not pressured by my friends to date but am teased by my older siblings,” said Polomarenko. “They started dating in middle school. I just do it because I think it’s cool and I want to be like my sister.”
Dating, to Madison, involves holding hands in the hallway and hanging out during school. She would like to go on movie dates alone, but her parents say she can’t. Although they are around each other a lot, even if it is just in school, Madison and her boyfriend do not want to go into anything too quickly.
“Some people don’t think when they start dating,” Polomarenko said. “They don’t think their first kiss is a big deal, but I think it is. Even though I am dating, I do not want to waste my first kiss.”
Some kids who start dating at a young age understand the negative effects. Others date because it’s what everyone else does or are pressured into it by friends. They don’t realize one real reason for dating is to find true love.