AIBU to find a group of small boys just chatting at the playground unusual?

I don’t think it’s unusual. Many children behave this way. I certainly did fairly often as a child. It’s actually lovely that these young boys enjoy each other’s company and just chatting together. I don’t think it’s fair to assume that they don’t know how to play independently simply because they choose this type of recreation. I would say that they are doing “the work of childhood” just as other children are by playing active games on the playground. They are all developing important skills (social, communicative, interactive). And of course having fun.

how have you decided that it's clearly unusual given multiple people have said it's normal, their kids did/do the same, etc.?

The kids chatting to each other seem to have better listening comprehension than you, given it's not just one child ignoring everything the others say!

I also don't know how you've decided that not playing without an adult starting a game = don't know how to play.

If you saw an adult not doing something - changing a tyre, standing on one leg, cooking a meal, would you assume they also did not know how to do it? Or would you just realise that just because they were not demonstrating that particular skill at that very second, they couldn't do it?

I was definitely more of a thinker as a child than one running around like a blue arsed fly. Never seemed to get on with kids that did. Nor did I ever think I was "superior" to kids who did prefer to run about screaming. Just different.

No idea why you're so upset by kids who don't rush about being annoying screeching.

8 or 9 comments already from people saying they know kids who do this - not sure why you keep saying nobody is commenting that this is normal behaviour?

Sounds OK to me, quite normal.

Come back when they’re 17 and your feral kid is smoking meth behind the bike shed whilst these kids begin to run the world eh

Do you know what theyre talking about? Football, international politics, how weird the woman staring at them is ( 😄).

Being able to chat and enjoy the back and forth of conversation is a great life skill, kids don't need to tear around all the time. I'm intrigued as to what they are chatting about, if I had seen them i'd have been tempted to eavesdrop

I think it’s stranger that you go to parks, observe other peoples children socialising and then judge them on the internet.. but go off 👏🏼

I would imagine iPad kids would be less likely to have the social skills to chat and interact for a prolonged period.

Op focus on you`re own kids and stop judging others.
Maybe they was playing eye spy, or catting about hot wheels, spider man movie, or transformers.

Stop policing kids are you the same poster that has issues with kids playing outside with chalk.

Maybe they're neurodiverse and have found other boys who enjoy their obssessions.

Op is being weird. I think it is brilliant that these boys are talking to each other!

I think it’s great- they’re communicating with each other, learning to converse and discovering how interpersonal relationships work!

Who cares? They are outside getting some vitamin d not sat in front of a screen. Who are adults to dictate how a child plays? My son is hyper and would be playing tag but I wouldn't bat an eyelid at other boys talking to each other it's rather nice and civilised.

They are playing. They are doing a fun activity, the sort they are not allowed to do during class time nor able to do when home where their little mates do not live. They are playing.

This, they'll be discussing something like pokemon cards

There was a stage where the pokemon swapping groups in our park honestly resembled a trading pit. I half expected them to start turning up in multicoloured blazers & letting rip with open outcry.

No, it isn't. What's unusual is your assumption that they "can't play unless directed by an adult".

I've known plenty of children like this. They prefer verbal games or make believe, or talking about their shared interest (be it Pokémon, trading cards, football or Spider-Man), or jokes, or any number of things to running around.

Some have been ND, some are readers and charters over sporty types, some just really enjoyed sitting around with their pals.

They aren't unusual, they just aren't like your child.

I think that's really sweet. In my experience little boys can have a great time chatting together, making jokes etc.... I think it's adorable. Don't really get your point tbh.

You're seeing a snapshot in time. A group of boys that enjoy chatting

That doesn't mean they don't play when with other people or in other contexts

@ShedShedShed yout post is judgemental YABU.

These kids are obviously enjoying talking to each other and frankly that's great cos since social media hit the scene, people don't talk enough.

Enjoyment isn't just running around and making noise! Wind your neck in.

My son did this at that age and still does. Not unusual at all.

Yup my 7 year old is the same, or minecraft as he now plays that with his dad occasionally.

I once spent an entire parkrun with him (running the full 5k) chatting my ear off about the pokemon shop we were going to after and the world he was building in minecraft. Completely out of my interests but it was nice to have him tell me so much about something he is interested in.

You wouldn't question a group of girls sat chatting in a park, so why would a group of boys doing the same thing raise questions?

It's not unusual.
It might be less common than the proportion of boys charging around, and it is more common in girls.
But it's not unusual.

Chatty boys are often interesting people. I've known plenty from being at school, scouting and work.

I don’t think it’s weird. I do however find you weird