When a 12-year-old starts dating, what are parents supposed to do?

Mar 22, 2026 | 18:04 IST

Illustration: Chad Crowe (USA)

As teens start dating younger and more casually, parents are moving from control to conversations

A sneaky glimpse at her 14-year-old daughter’s WhatsApp left Shrima Ravindran* aghast. The seemingly endless stream of messages, with a liberal sprinkling of kiss emojis, made it clear to her that the boy was more than a friend. Ravindran’s first instinct was to read out the riot act.

TOI

TOI

When a 12-year-old starts dating, what are parents supposed to do?

As teens start dating younger and more casually, parents are moving from control to conversations

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TOI

When a 12-year-old starts dating, what are parents supposed to do?

As teens start dating younger and more casually, parents are moving from control to conversations

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