Kid Crushes and Dating

"My kid says she's dating someone, and she's 9!" Before you send in the cavalry, take a second to learn about all of the different ways kids express affection for one another and how to talk to them about it. We may want to learn the income, prospects, and favorite color of the crush in question, but sometimes it really is okay for kids to have secrets and feel independent in that regard.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How to talk to your kid respectfully about their crushes
• How to spot signs that your kid has a crush/is dating
• What "dating" means at different ages

Here are some links to the resources we discuss in this episode:

Adrienne Wichard-Edds for the Washington Post: Why You Should Permit and Encourage Your Teen to Date

Dian Cheney for Good Housekeeping: So Your Teen is Dating--Now What?

Bonnie J. Rough for the New York Times: The Value of Childhood Crushes

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