First crushes may occur at any time, but generally start at around 10-13 years of age. They are an important step in developing normal and healthy romantic relationships, and provide opportunities to learn how to compromise and communicate. First crushes may involve friends or schoolmates, but sometimes involve other people like actors or singers. Children may be distracted during their first crush as they try to sort out their feelings, and parents can be an important source of support during this time.
This episode written by Dean Blumberg and Lena van der List.
Supplemental information:
- Healthy Children Your Child’s First Crush
- Girl Scouts How to Survive Your Daughter's First Crush
- Molly Longman Refinery29 Our Childhood Crushes Were Sweet, Weird, & Kind Of Made Us Who We Are Today
