What is the rush?
Seriously, I have watched parents of children as young as four or five refer to their child’s playmate as a “girlfriend” or “boyfriend.” In my opinion, if your
child has a friend whose company they enjoy, why can’t it just be that? A friendship. Adding the level can imply a level of expectation that is not needed or even wanted.
The middle school aged children that I care for love to tell me about their
boyfriends and girlfriends. Having gently asked questions about this, I have discovered that what they mean is a person they are attracted to.
Although many describe it as dating, they don’t sit together at lunch, play together in free time, talk on the phone after school, or even see each other outside of school. And that is fine!
There’s no need for children in that age group to do more than that, so why even call it that? I recommend exchanging the labels “boyfriend and girlfriend” out whenever you can. It instantly relieves the pressure and if the relationship changes there will be much less fall out.
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