Few issues cause as much conflict in the home as the question of "how old is old enough to date?" Some parents think you shouldn't date until after you're married.  Students think they are born ready to date.   

You might be surprised to know that it's not a physical age but a spiritual and emotional maturity that determines whether you are old enough to date.  When my two oldest children were twelve and fourteen years old, they asked me this same question.  I was honest and told them, "I don't know.  It depends on  each of you.  You're not old enough to date until you've developed the emotional and spritual maturity to say no to sexual pressure.  In other words," I said,"you're old enough to date when you show character and maturity to put off immediate satisfaction to the future."  It was interesting that both children agreed with me.

How can you know if you are mature enough to date?  Here are some evidences:

-You aren't influenced by peer pressure.

-Your self-image is not based on whether you are dating or not 

-You date for the purpose of friendship not romance 

-You have committed yourself to purity and will not compromise with sex 

-You have your parent's permission