The end of schoolyard romance!

Romance often blooms early, but one Sydney headmaster feels relationships can start too soon and has placed restrictions on relationships at school.

“WHAT is the appropriate age to have your first boyfriend or girlfriend?

Certainly not 10 or younger, according to one Sydney school.

The Northern Beaches Christian School in the city’s north has drawn the line after concerns from parents about children becoming boyfriends and girlfriends at a tender age.

“This sexualisation at a young age was not something the majority of parents supported,” principal Stephen Harris told the Manly Daily.

“The school responded to the issue with the head of primary, Peter Grimes, telling year 5 students there should be no discussions of girlfriends and boyfriends.”

Parents have been told to keep a close eye on their youngsters.

“He (Mr Grimes) also wrote in the school newsletter to advise parents to forbid certain activities and never allow their child to close the bedroom door when someone of the opposite sex was visiting,” Mr Harris said”

This article originally appeared on news.com.au

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95 Comments

- - mom94125 said
  - 12 Jan 2015
    4:57 pm
my kids won’t be dating until they are 30….wish me luck lol
- Frankiielot replied
  
  22 Sep 2022 , 7:58 pm
  Ahahaha I second that with mine.
- - rachaelchara said
  - 15 Oct 2014
    11:51 am
I am not sure this really is a problem.

- - Lov'n'Life said
  - 10 Aug 2014
    7:01 pm
I don’t think it is really a problem as long as your child is only using the name boyfriend and girlfriend and not taking it any further and yes you should not let children have closed doors etc it is all common sense really

- - jabelle said
  - 31 Jul 2014
    12:02 pm
my son is 7 and has had two girlfriends. he speaks so beautifully about them and their plans for marriage an children. His first girlfriend left the school and the second one dumped him! It’s all good practice and I’m happy to go along with it.

- - mom61907 said
  - 27 Jun 2014
    12:43 am
Yes I do think it is a good idea, I fully support the headmaster.

- - eestigirl said
  - 10 Jun 2014
    4:55 pm
Of course the sexualisation of children is not acceptable!! I wasn’t aware though that friendship between children automatically fell into that category. Aren’t year 5 boys allergic to girls any more? I must have been left behind.

- - christial said
  - 31 May 2014
    9:14 pm
Schoolyard romances are so cute and innocent.. The school can’t control what kids think and feel!

- - scottie said
  - 30 May 2014
    11:42 am
i think it is getting out of hand what schools think they can control

- - kazh said
  - 24 May 2014
    10:51 pm
Children are definitely sexualised far too early these days, it is difficult to know how to deal with this issue. I agree with everything the Principal has said, I am not sure it is his place to say it to parents, but then it seems so obvious to me… perhaps it isn’t to everyone?

- - krissy333 said
  - 21 May 2014
    5:51 am
Like other mums have commented I think it’s innocent at that stage. Forbidding it will just make them delve further into it

- - mom57522 said
  - 20 May 2014
    9:26 pm
As long as it is innocent it is fine.

- - Mrs Bucket (that's pronounced Bouquet) said
  - 19 May 2014
    9:03 am
Mr Grimes needs to confine his suggestions to his school, advising parents on what happens in their homes (not closing the bedroom door) is none of his bees wax.

It’s people like him that suck the fun and innocence out of childhood and quite frankly I think he has on over active imagination.
- Mrs Bucket (that's pronounced Bouquet) replied
  
  19 May 2014 , 9:04 am
  That should be AN over active imagination.
- - twinmum2 said
  - 15 May 2014
    2:24 pm
I think placing restrictions on something just makes it more appealing to some children. At such an early age being girlfriend/boyfriend is usually non sexual and just involves being good friends and sitting next to each other in the playground.

- - BellaB said
  - 08 May 2014
    8:46 pm
I think it’s generally pretty innocent play acting at this age.

- - Happymum said
  - 06 May 2014
    2:41 pm
I think it is sad that the world has come to this

- - catgrrl3 said
  - 04 May 2014
    8:28 am
kids should be allowed to be kids

- - kathryn said
  - 30 Apr 2014
    1:33 pm
I don’t think that girlfriend/boyfriend is sexualized at that age!

- - cheezel said
  - 30 Apr 2014
    11:35 am
i think that the school dictatorship is going a little too far

- - kozack said
  - 20 Apr 2014
    3:14 pm
i think most kids under 10 have no idea about the proper boyfriend/girlfriend relationship,the idea of it to them is harmless just means they like each other,there is no expectation from one another i think the more rules and regulations put on things the more aware kids are about it.Saying you can’t do this or that because,makes them much more aware then just letting kids be kids at this age and let them enjoy their own innocence.

- - fruitwood said
  - 13 Apr 2014
    3:13 pm
My daughter is 8 and has a “boyfriend”. There is nothing sexual about it, rather more like best friends. It’s harmless.