I went to the local flying club when I was 14, interested in starting gliding; They said come back next year when I was 15. Started and soloed gliders before the legal age of 16 (at that time), the examiner was from our CAA so who was going to stop him sending me off on my own? When I was 18 I started my PPL, soloed Cherokee 140 after 1:05 of dual.
Gliding is not only fun, it also makes you a better pilot.
My daughter also glides now and flies the Bonanza as well as a newly minted IR pilot I coached who never glided.
Just watch a few gliding clips on Youtube, fabulous.