Dear Family Coach: My 14-year-old daughter's friend asked her to accompany her on a date. The friend is dating a boy and isn't allowed to go out with him alone. She wants to invite another boy to attend along with my daughter to have a group date. Should I let my daughter go? — Hesitant Parents

Dear Hesitant: Group dating is a precursor to individual dating. It's important to keep that in mind when making your decision. Sure, your daughter would be there to support her friend. But she would also be spending more social time with potential love interests. On one hand, it is great for her to develop friendships and ways to socially interact in a relaxed setting. On the other hand, she will be one step closer to dating. If you are OK with allowing her to begin dating, then let her escort her friend. If you aren't certain she is ready for this step — or if you aren't — then maybe back off for a bit.

Whatever you decide, use her friend's relationship to open up a dialog about dating. Encourage your daughter to talk about her friend's relationship. Is the boy nice to her friend? How can your daughter tell? What does dating him entail? Ask your daughter whether she is interested in dating. Use these conversations to convey your thoughts on dating and relationships. You may even offer some anecdotes about your teen years.

Don't forget to begin talking about how babies are made, birth control and sexually transmitted diseases. Don't wait until you've missed the window.

Dear Family Coach: My 4-year-old struggles with managing her anger. She is delightful most of the time. But if something sets her off, she can grind her teeth, grunt, growl and even hit out of frustration. Sometimes the anger seems reasonable, and sometimes it seems overblown. She does well at preschool, and her teachers report she gets along with the other children. Any ideas on how I can help her deal with frustration in a more productive way? — Angry Kid's Mom

Dear Mom: Some children deal with frustration easily. They go with the flow, and their feathers don't get ruffled often. Others struggle to regulate their emotions and need more help to properly channel their feelings. Children don't innately know how to describe feelings or deal with them.

To start helping your daughter deal with her feelings, validate them. While her reactions may appear to be overblown, the feelings are real to her. Give feelings words, and use sample face charts, or even emojis, to show what emotions actually look like. Then, use those same feeling words to label your daughter's feelings. Say to her, "Wow, you look angry." Or substitute angry for frustrated or annoyed or aggravated. Talk through what anger feels like for you. Does your blood pressure rise? Do you get hot or red in the face? Then, help your daughter understand how she exhibits anger. You already mentioned it — she growls, hits and grinds her teeth. Help connect those behaviors with her feelings.

Eventually, your daughter will be able to identify her own emotions. The next step is to manage those emotions when they pop up. After validating, try to teach her how to let go of anger and diffuse a situation. Tell her to ask for help when she is frustrated. Additionally, teach her mindfulness and breathing exercises she can also use to calm down.

Be a role model for her. Identify your emotions, and manage your frustration and anger when she is present. Use the same exercises you teach her to show what calming down looks like in action.

Dr. Catherine Pearlman, the founder of The Family Coach, LLC, advises parents on all matters of child rearing. To write to Dr. Pearlman, send her an email at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Catherine Pearlman and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.