Parenting Pointers with Dr. Claudia - Episode 228

Topic - Young Love. Young love is for real. You can truly fall in love in the early teen years, but you spend your childhood rehearsing for your debut. From ages 0-2, babies learn how to flirt and make you fall in love with them to increase their survival. Getting that protection teaches the “give and take” of later life relationships. From 3 to 6, kids are very expressive of love for parents and demonstrate it through intense affection. They begin to explore the contours of their bodies. From 7 to 12, the Magic Years, boys test the limits of sexually explicit language and girls focus on romance. Fantasy is a big part, often the only part, of their romantic worlds. The years from 13 to 18 bring big changes as they transition from single- to mixed-gender social groups. Teens take their first steps toward sexual and romantic behavior and by late adolescence, more serious romances develop. Understanding your kids’ stage of love development is critical to helping them cope.