Hey I like this 12 year old and I am 17 and she likes me is it illegal for us to date as long as we don't have sexual intercourse

What do her parents say? What could you possibly have in common with such a child?

While there are no laws that govern dating her parents have to approve or you could have legal trouble. I don't know many parents that would let a 12 yr old date, especially a 17 yr old.

I think you need to try and figure out why you are attracted to a child.

Is there some reason you are interested in a 12 year old rather than someone your own age? I'd never let my 12 year old date at all, let alone date a 17 year old.

There is a reason 12 year old is called jail bait. I knew parents that moved a 19 year old into their 14 year old daughters bedroom. The parents ended up getting him arrested for rape only after they were arguing. Not before or after she had his baby, but after they were not getting along. I have heard of many 15 year old girls yelling rape and getting the guy arrested and the guy never had sex with her, but it was how the girl decided to end the relationship.

What about this12 year old attracts you? I find that strange. You should ask her parents how they feel about this.

Like Scott said, there are no laws against dating, but there is a but. At her age she needs parental permission to date. So, if her parents say no, it's no, and if you go against that you could end up in a lot of legal trouble.

I have to ask, what do you and a 12 year old have in common? You can drive, in another year you can vote in most countries, you'll also be done with school and on your way to college, or working. She can't even stay out past 9 o'clock, she's in junior high at most. She probably still plays with dolls. What the heck do the two of you have in common, and don't say that she's mature for her age. I have yet to meet a 12 year old that's mature enough to date period, much less someone 5 years older than her.

I wish I knew 12 year olds that played with dolls. The majority I know are on their 3rd boyfriend.

I wish I knew 12 year olds that played with dolls. The majority I know are on their 3rd boyfriend.

My daughter is 11. She still plays with dolls, her stuffies, and boys are yucky. Her friend is 12, soon to be 13, same thing.

Yes, there are a lot of kids in her class that are "dating" now. Dating at the age of 12 consists of playing together in the playground, and texting. A 12 year old just doesn't understand what dating is all about. A 17 year old does.

Agree, this is just wrong, and the older 17 year old, is totally wrong for having desires to date a child.

My daughter is 11. She still plays with dolls, her stuffies, and boys are yucky. Her friend is 12, soon to be 13, same thing.

Yes, there are a lot of kids in her class that are "dating" now. Dating at the age of 12 consists of playing together in the playground, and texting. A 12 year old just doesn't understand what dating is all about. A 17 year old does.

Yes there are a lot. Where I live though I only know about 4 that play with dolls. By 15 most of the girls I know are pregnant with their second baby. Just sayin' I wish I knew more girls that play with dolls.

There are a lot of 12/13 year old girls that don't date and still play with dolls. They talk about boys but they don't go out on dates. Girls that age have no business doing anything with a 17 year old . A 17 year old should not want to have anything to do with a 12 year old.

yes there are a lot. Where I live though I only know about 4 that play with dolls. By 15 most of the girls I know are pregnant with their second baby. Just sayin' I wish I knew more girls that play with dolls.

Wow, pregnant at 15?

I have to say, there are definitely more girls in my area that play with dolls at 13, and don't date. Those that do date at that age, date the way I said before, which isn't dating.

Maybe it's a matter of parenting.

Yes it is matter of parenting because the first bunch of kids I knew at 15 are now in their 30's and their daughters are in their teen and messing around with all kind of guys.

Oh and ALL the kids have different baby daddy's, nost dead beat.

Let me guess. Her parents don't know about you, and the two of you do most of your chatting online or in text. I could be wrong and you are over there every Sunday after church for a nice dinner with her family. Or, she is over at your house, helping your mom make cookies?

Do you help her with her homework? Ride bikes together? Meet up at the park on the jungle gym and giggle together down the slides? Maybe you lend a sympathetic ear when she laments how embarrassing it was to have to go to Sears and buy her first bra with her mother.

Do you drive? How do you manage to meet up? She must be lying to her parents to see you. Why don't you just go and knock on the front door of her house, shake hands with her dad and mom, with a case of beer tucked under your arm. You haven't got this 12 year old drinking beer yet have you?

She's probably not even started plucking her eyebrows yet, and you, as an adult, have probably plucked a lot- and we aren't talking eyebrows here. You bring experience to the table, or at least some sort of understanding of girlfriend/boyfriend relationships. She brings what to the table? Intelligent conversation? Has she introduced you to her friends? That would be interesting- you would look like her babysitter.

There IS an obvious difference in development between a 12 year old girl, and a 17 year old boy. Even the law defines that close enough that 12 year old girls need protection, because they lack maturity to be adults!! Most people in authority, from parents to police would certainly question your motives. You being interviewed by any person of authority would be interesting. "But officer, we didn't have intercourse", to which her parents would (hopefully) knock your head off.

You are absolutely in the wrong, in my opinion, to have anything to do with a 12 year old girl, in any way, shape or form. That you cannot see that, is worrysome.

Go and 'play' with someone your own age.