It's a dating dilemma between parents and teens -- when is the right time to start dating?

When teens think they're ready, often mom and dad do not.

"I think it should be when they graduate from high school," one parent said.

Many parents fear the emotional strain that dating can put on teens, and the physical risks if sex becomes a part of the equation.

Family counseling expert Lynne Marie Boykin said that those concerns are reasonable.

"More teenage girls get pregnant at 4 in the afternoon than any other time of day," Boykin said.

Boykin said that 4 p.m. is usually the time when most adults are working and kids are left unsupervised at home.

"We did things behind our parents' back. Are we stupid to think they're not going to do things behind our backs?" Boykin said.

So, what is the magic age for a first date?

"I don't think there's any right age, but once you get to high school and all your peers are doing it, well then you want to be involved too," Boykin said.

Here are some tips for parents:

Have the dating conversation early.

"The more open a family is, the more secure a kid can be and being able to talk to your child about everything, sex included, is really healthy," Boykin said.

Keep the lines of communication open.

"When you talk down to them, 'click,' they turn you right off," Boykin said.

Combat the peer pressure of dating. Let your child know it is OK to wait.

"Some kids are hot at 12, and some are nerds and just not ready until they are 16, 17. They're just not ready for dating," Boykin said.

Parents might want to consider these survival guidelines:

Watch TV together. Use the programs as a platform for discussion about relationships.

Test your child's maturity. If she keeps her word and follows the rules, she may be ready to date.

Introduce yourself to the other parents and get on the same page. There is strength in unity.

Set a curfew and stick to it. Having limits in place can help your teen put the brakes on more easily.

"If we could all go from 12 to 20, wouldn't that be fun?" Boykin said.