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

I have a 11 year old boy who is like this with his friends and has been for years. They talk about Warhammer, D&D, politics, the economy, physics…their conversations are wonderful and they are all little nerds doing exceptionally well at school. They have found their tribe and are very happy.

Having sons, I can say it is not unusual. At that or any age.

I’d consider saying you are, watching them so much and caring what other children are up to, when they’re bothering no one. Yet it bothers you.

I see what you mean @ShedShedShed. Its as if they dont know how to play. Maybe they even think playing isnt cool by aged 6.
How very sad. A group of boys chatting is adorable but not if they dont also know how to play, chase each other, play games they've made up themselves etc

Glad they have found their tribe!

How refreshing

If you looked at most school playgrounds you'd see a mix of kids, some running around, some playing an organised game like football and some sat around chatting. All very normal behaviours.

My child had always preferred to have chats with their friends about their favourite things. They also like playing on playground equipment at times or playing with toys but mainly likes the chat. Nothing to do with iPads as another put it, mine doesnt bother with the tablet we have in our house. I was the same at that age, hated running around, preferred just talking with my friends.

I answered you and said it was common where I live.

My son is neurodivergent, he and his friends can play while looking like they are just hanging out chatting. Often they're actually playing a really elaborate game of some sort, my son often pretends to be a a specific character, his best girl friend is a mermaid, his best boy friend a dinosaur etc and they have this elaborate world. They will often wander about the trees but in that game they have these fairies who live in the trees, we'll be there for 2 hours and they'llaybe spend half the time doing cartwheels and climbing and then they settle into this chill game. Kids don't have to play in conventional ways to be getting social input and physical input. Sometimes the walk to the parks we go to is over a mile then they wander about and it's a mile or more home again.

Perhaps they're talking about the odd woman who watches them all the time. Thats the kind if thing that sparks imagination in kids like you wouldnt believe. My two used to make up wild stories about the woman who stared in our window every morning when she walked past 😂

Sooooo much judgment in your initial and subsequent posts - there is no 'one correct way to be a child in a playground'
It's almost like you feel superior that your feral children are racing around and these poor inferior creatures prefer something more sedate...
I would suggest, kindly, that you get a life, and leave other children to 'do their thing' without you looking on in judgement.
If they were smacking each other around the head, bullying others, dominating the playground then you'd have a point, but, honestly, it's a REACH to be posting about this.
If I were you I'd get this post deleted, you're just embarrassing yourself.

Perhaps they're chatting about how to avoid growing up to be seen as merely a hindrance 😉🙂
(ref to another thread)

OP, your replies at the start of the thread were very judgmental towards these boys and how they chose to exist together, implying there was something wrong with them because they didn’t behave like your ds. Not all boys want to spend their entire time racing around the place, playing make believe games, or whatever. I think it’s sweet that they’re chatting. However, you seem weirdly concerned about why these boys are chatting rather than playing and you’ve made assumptions about them to fit some idea in your head. Question: why on earth would it matter how these boys spend their time?

What is wrong with you?

Poor lads, being judged for having a conversation! I wonder why you find it peculiar and wrong, because it's neither of those things.

Not unusual at all. Girls can chit chat and wear pink. Girls can run about and kick a ball and wear blue. And vice versa. You need to get past the boys will be boys thinking. It will hinder your child.
What’s unusual is you an adult noticing this and thinking it’s weird.

Doesn't sound remotely unusual. Some kids like running around like blue arsed flies. Some kids prefer social engagement.

My ds was like this. He's an adult now(well just about) and plays dungeons and dragons with his friends which is essentially a very long chat as far as I can make out. He's just always been very calm, quiet and considered even at 6, charging around playgrounds was never for him.

You obviously missed my post then! It’s not unusual at all.

My son is hugely into making up elaborate stories with a couple of his friends (he plays d&d and reads loads of fantasy) so he spends plenty of time chatting. I think it’s lovely.

And yes - you tend to see kids running around shrieking but there are usually pockets of quieter or more imaginative kids putting the world to rights.

Hilarious take. Everyone says I’m wrong….so I must be right.

give over op. Everyone has said it’s normal. End of

I would say it is somewhat unusual, but you seem to think they can't play rather than perhaps choosing not to play. They may play when an adult directs them because they are happy enough to join in but i wouldn't assume that that means that they don't know how to play without adult help - they may just be as happy chatting.

I would much rather my child be socialising with friends than tearing around for the most part honestly. I don’t have a boy but this doesn’t seem unusual, my girl often preferred talking to adults or older children over running around.

Maybe they are just quite mature 6 year olds?

It’s very strange that this seems to be bothering you so much. The tone of your posts and comments is very odd.