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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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  • my kids won’t be dating until they are 30….wish me luck lol

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  • I am not sure this really is a problem.

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  • 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

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  • 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.

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  • Yes I do think it is a good idea, I fully support the headmaster.

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  • 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.

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  • Schoolyard romances are so cute and innocent.. The school can’t control what kids think and feel!

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  • i think it is getting out of hand what schools think they can control

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  • 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?

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  • Like other mums have commented I think it’s innocent at that stage. Forbidding it will just make them delve further into it

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  • As long as it is innocent it is fine.

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • I think it’s generally pretty innocent play acting at this age.

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  • I think it is sad that the world has come to this

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