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Stages of Dating
Dating begins at different times for different people. Some kids might begin to date in groups in middle school. Others may not choose to date until later in high school, or even after high school. This is all quite normal.
The first stage of dating is called "group" dating. Obviously, this means that you do things with a group of other people, boys and girls together. There aren't many couples in the group... usually just a collection of people who like to do things together. This is the ideal first stage because it allows you to interact with the opposite sex in a fun social way without the pressure of having to come up with all the ideas or needing to do all the talking. For a person who is a little shy it helps them increase their comfort level slowly, learning to communicate better.
The second stage of dating is "couple dating." This is when there are just two people doing something together. This is very casual without any commitment to each other. It is more socially demanding as there is no group to rely on for conversation and activity. This does give two people a better chance to get to know each other better. When teens begin this stage of dating it is important to go on dates with lots of different people and not move too quickly to the last stage of dating, "exclusive dating."
Exclusive means dating one person only... and no one else. When you have had a variety of experiences with different types of people you might find someone who is a very good match for you. This would be the time to consider exclusive dating, a serious step in a relationship.
The problem with making this choice too soon is that you may not have had enough experience to know that this person is compatible (remember the candy store!). If you tie yourself down too soon you not only miss the experiences of others but you can also find yourself too seriously involved in the relationship for you age level. Some high school students do become involved in exclusive dating as a convenience. It is easy to know that you will always have a date for the dance, game, prom, etc.
Each stage of dating is an important step in preparing you for the experiences of Love, Engagement and Marriage. If you do not have enough time and experience at each level of dating you can find yourself in one of these steps without the skills you need to make it work out. The point would be to take it slowly when dating... enjoy each stage and get to know lots of people before making any serious commitments.
Conclusion
Friendships are very important and special relationships in our lives. There are steps and skills needed to develop good friendships that increase our Social Health. Good ability at friendships leads to better experiences at dating. Taking dating one step at a time helps us to be better prepared for satisfying adult types of relationships.