In short, research seems to indicate that in many cultures, an age gap of 1 to 3 years is considered ideal — but some researchers suggest even a relationship with an age gap of less than 10 years will bring more satisfaction.
A relationship age gap bigger than 10 years often comes with its own set of issues. “While there are always exceptions to rules, a good rule to remember is that dating someone more than 10 years older will present challenges now or later that add to the preexisting challenges any relationship has,” he says.
There is no hard and fast rule on what kind of an age gap is or isn't acceptable in any relationship. While couples typically tend to have an age gap of around one to three years in many cultures, each individual will have a different comfort level that they feel is right for them.
Is it too much of a gap? No it's not. Girls tend to mature earlier than boys, so you are closer in maturity than you may think.
Is it normal/acceptable for a 12 year-old and a 14 year-old to date one another? Yes, it's fine. It isn't a very big age gap, and it'll be better when they're 13 and 15, and better still when they're 14 and 16. Just reading those numbers has probably made you feel better about them dating.
A significant age difference might differ based on the ages of the people involved. In adulthood, for instance, a 3-year age gap is fairly standard. As a teenager, however, there is a stark difference between a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old. In adulthood, these small numbers are usually not considered an issue.
An age gap of 10 years or more is considered a big difference. When one person has a decade more life experience than their partner, the couple might be incompatible. You're likely to have different circles of friends, different interests, and different life goals.
Dating and relationships
In general, there are no laws that say when a young person can start dating another person (but there are laws about doing sexual activity with another person, which we explain below!) However, there are laws which make grooming children under the age of 16 a crime.
Anybody can be a groomer, no matter their age, gender or race. Grooming can take place over a short or long period of time – from weeks to years. Groomers may also build a relationship with the young person's family or friends to make them seem trustworthy or authoritative.
That's not weird. It's Normal. It becomes odd when she just turned 15, and you're turning 18 in a little bit — where you're a senior & she's a freshman. It isn't crazy — but it can make protective parents concerned.
Romantic couples with a large age gap often raise eyebrows. Studies have found partners with more than a 10-year gap in age experience social disapproval. But when it comes to our own relationships, both men and women prefer someone their own age, but are open to someone 10-15 years their junior or senior.
Originally Answered: Is it weird for an 18 year old girl to date a 21 year old guy? It's not only not weird, it's really, really common. The real thing to consider (since you're both legally adults) is what life experience you have in common. At 18, you've either recently graduated or are a high school senior.
No, dating does not get harder as you grow up. Dating can be continued or started at any age because a person should not take you by just your age, height or weight. They should date you by looking at your inner beauty. Age is just a number, so don't worry about it.
The “creepiness rule” states that the youngest you should date is “half your age plus seven.” The less commonly used corollary is that the oldest you should date is “subtract seven from your age and double it.”
It has been found6 that people in age-gap relationships live longer. This is potentially due to differential fertility, the ability of the younger partner to care for the older partner into old age and economic security.
A 16-year-old dating an 18-year-old is not a big age difference. It's only 2 years apart in age and a 16-year-old isn't a child equivalent to a 5-year-old, and an 18-year-old isn't an adult equivalent to a middle-aged man. They're both developmentally adolescents in high school.
No one is immune to grooming, though some are more susceptible than others — including minors, "because of their naiveté,” Marlowe Garrison says. “[Grooming] can occur at any age, and it has a great deal to do with gullibility, insecurity, religion, and culture.
What Is the Meaning of Child Grooming? Adults who build stable and trusting relationships with a child under 18 for the purpose of sexually assaulting the minor are considered groomers. As such, you could face state and federal charges for child grooming if the alleged victim is under 15.
It is not necessarily wrong, but some may see it as weird. It is not illegal as long as there are no sexual actions. Be very careful. If you really love each other and it's meant to be, it will work itself out.
About legal age in Australia
As your child grows up and becomes more independent, you might be wondering how old they need to be before they can do certain things. In Australia, you're considered to be an adult when you turn 18 years old.
If the sex is consensual (and it must be enthusiastic consent) and the other party is also aged 16 years or over it is not against the law, although there are some exceptions: If the person is very drunk or under the influence of drugs, they may not have the capacity to consent so having sex with them is an offence.
Although the legal age of consent throughout Australia is either 16 or 17 years of age, legislation in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia makes it an offence for a person in a supervisory role to have sexual interactions with a ...
It's not too big of an age gap but you do need to wait until the youngest of you is over the age of consent before engaging in sexual intercourse. This age varies around the world from about 12 years old up to 18 years old.
A 14 or 15 year old can consent to sexual activity as long as the partner is less than five years older and there is no relationship of trust, authority or dependency or any other exploitation of the young person.
Dating with minors: Dating with with 15, 16, 17 and 18 years old not illegal, to date a minor if a person under 18 years old is ok, but it is illegal to have sexual relations with a minor. So the safest approach is to wait for any sexual contact until the state age of consent.