Provisional

Dr Christopher Chong and his wife, lawyer Yew Woon Chooi, both in their late 40s, have a dating "timeline" for their children: group dates from say 15 or 16, single dates from 17 or 18, and "real dating" from university.

But there is a caveat, says Dr Chong, an obstetrician and gynaecologist: "Nothing physical in junior college, such as kissing, caressing, perhaps not even holding hands before university."

He and his wife paired up only after a Mount Ophir climbing trip during their days in the National University of Singapore in the mid-1980s.

They have three children: Beverly, 20, Dominic, 18, and Nicolette, 13.

While Dominic shares his parents' view that 17 or 18 is a good time for exclusive dates, he does not agree with their "nothing physical till university" rule.

"I think it's okay for teenagers to show affection as I believe the responsible ones know their limits," says the Year 6 Raffles Institution student, who is not dating and has not been in a relationship before.

"Maybe the maximum teenagers should do in a relationship is hold hands but avoid long, steamy kisses. Just a peck on the lips is fine," he adds.

Restraint is a plus, given that there are more than a handful of those who overstep physical boundaries.

Provisional figures from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority show that 589 babies were born to girls aged 19 and below last year.

Teenager Samuel Lim who has never been in a relationship, feels that his parents' date-but-do-not- touch rules protect against raging hormones.

"Some teens can go crazy easily. One thing might lead to another with too much kissing and hugging and things could become really complicated," says the 18-year-old, referring to unplanned pregnancies.