They value shared interests over "chemistry." If two people like the color blue, that is a solid foundation for a lifelong commitment. 4. Mimicry and Mystery

Children as young as three or four years old begin to notice the relationships between adults around them. They may see a mother and father holding hands, or a pair of friends laughing together, and ask simple but profound questions like "Why do they love each other?" or "What's a boyfriend?"

But the child understands something we have forgotten: relationships are experiential. They are not meant to be permanent projects. A child uses romance as a test drive for social skills. They learn to share, to compromise, to say "I don't want to be your friend anymore," and then to say "Okay, let's be friends again" ten seconds later.

As a parent or caregiver, it's essential to consider the impact of relationships and romantic storylines on small children. At a young age, children are beginning to understand the world around them, and exposure to various relationships and storylines can shape their perceptions and values.

Furthermore, the current generation of small children views kissing with a level of disgust usually reserved for Brussels sprouts. In their relational hierarchy, kissing ranks far below: