Comments on my 7 year old being "young" for his age?

[Plimos]

My just turned 7 YO has notably different interests to those of the majority of his peers. I feel like he doesn't have many friends because of this.

He spends most of his free time reading, drawing, doing lego and playing imaginary games. He has a Nintendo Switch which he likes but will do 30 minutes on it max before he gets bored. Whereas the other boys in his class seem to want to do nothing but play Minecraft, Roblox etc. I have had comments from other parents that my DS is very young for his age because he "still" plays with toys. At 7 surely he's fine to be playing with toys?!?! He has also been teased by the other children because he still watches some cbeebies programmes like Hey Duggee, Maddie, Bluey. He also likes some CBBC stuff and other things.

Academically he's fine, ahead in most areas. And I feel that he is emotionally mature. He seems perfectly happy. But people are making me feel that his interests are too "young" and that's why he gets left out of things at school. Any experiences?

I thinks it’s fine to describe your own child “young for their age” out of earshot of them but very rude to say it to someone else about their child! Nothing wrong at all that a 7 year old likes playing with toys. It’s much healthier I’m sure than only being interested in screen type entertainment. My DD still played with sylvanians and dolls up until age 10 or so and is now mid teens and it doesn’t seem to have scarred her. My screen loving DSs still enjoyed Lego for years even when they also liked gaming. And colouring is fun at any age in my opinion! Also if he enjoys drawing and is probably quite good at it then that’s a great thing to enjoy doing.

As long as your DS is happy doing what he’s doing then you should tell him how fantastic it is that he’s able to entertain himself without constant screens!

Oh and CBeebies is great. I enjoy it still 😂

He also gets picked on by some of the boys because he goes to after school art club and is the only boy there - all the rest are girls. I really hate that sort of thing. Since when was art for girls only?!

Who are these ‘people’?
Wo cares what anyone else thinks? He is happy.

I think it's wonderful that he still plays with toys and reads! My son is addicted to screens, particularly Roblox. It's a battle to get him to do anything else. I'm wo fering if the other parents are a little envious that your son is not glued to screens!

Mostly other school parents!

He just sounds like an average 7yo!

I work with kids a bit older and they like those things. And they may not admit it... but lots of them have a comfort watch.

My elder DD watched Barbie films until she was 10 (the animated ones). They were safe and relaxing.

Who specifically is saying this?

I would be assertive if someone was being so rude about my child - I would say something like 'I am happy for my child to have different interests, he loves drawing and seems to have a really great imagination. I don't think he's young for his age, he's just happy doing what he wants'.

Usually other parents who comment are covering up some worry about their own kid. You have to find a polite way to say 'fuck off and tend to your own'.

His ways of amusing himself are far, far better than the other screen stuff you mention. I mean in terms of his brain development. He sounds wonderful. Tell those others that- he's perfect the way he is.

Playing with toys, reading etc does not make him young for his age. He just has different interests and his self esteem is clearly strong enough that he is happy to do what he wants, rather than trying to follow his peers.

Let him be himself.

This could be my son. Honestly don’t worry, I think the school should be involved with the name calling at school but it’s fine to play at that age and no one should be commenting on how your child plays. One parent on my sons class bough is a ps5 as she was worried about him 🙄. We didn’t accept it and said we have screen but he’s not bothered.
Your son sounds lovely

Well they are very rude and narrow-minded. Their children will potentially grow up to be rude and narrow-minded also, unfortunately.

Take no notice, he sounds a like a lovely, lively little boy. Bloody hell, if we can't be 'young' at 7 its a sad world indeed.

As for "School parents"... its competitive parenting wanting them to grow up. Computer games aren't a sign of maturity.

Shame about Art Club though. Bet there's lots who want to go but the parents think its for girls.

I think it is so sad that a 7yo is now considered too old for the things he is doing, sounds totally age appropriate to me. Most parents moan about their kids being on screens too much yet it sounds like the people around you just think it’s “the norm”. I’d much prefer to have the kid who reads, draws and plays with Lego!

And watch them all at 14 years old, when he is "young for his age", reading and doing his hobbies, rather than vaping and drinking vodka down the park.

Also many buy their kids a console but worry about it. They need every child to be on screens all the time to assuage their own parenting worries.

Thank you for your comments, they have made me feel better. He is an only child so I worry about him not having friends. He doesn't really seem fussed that's the thing - we have a massive family who he spends a lot of time with so I think that helps.

Your son sounds the exact right age for what he's doing, a lot of children are growing up way too fast. He has the rest of his life to be "grown up", childhood doesn't last forever and he has every right to enjoy it.

Sounds a lot like my 7 year old! He doesn’t have a switch or games console, although he sometimes plays games on my phone. He loves the CBeebies app and Bluey is a family favourite! He has a younger sibling which I think has probably influenced that a bit though! Keep them young for as long as possible I say, plenty of time to grow up later

BTW, the idiot parents questioning him going to Art Club, do they not recognise any of the thousands of male artists on our gallery walls? Says it all really.

He doesn’t sound young for his age. My nearly 10yo plays imaginary games with his friends and draws. If there was an art club he’d definitely be there! He is also one of only 2 boys at netball club. One of the girls in his class is into Dora. Rather than think that’s odd, the whole class has taken to random quoting it and it’s kind of the in thing now! Sure, he has screens too, but in his class it’s definitely not to the exclusion of everything else.

He's 7 & sounds like he's doing exactly what 7 year olds should be doing!

I would look at moving schools if you can find one where this is normal for the year group.

He's not 'young for his age'. He's perfect for his age.

Since when was art for girls? How bizarre. Who are these people? Your son sounds perfectly normal. It's great has so many interests, can occupy himself and that he is creative. The other parents are honestly weirdos.

When we had to homeschool during covid he was so happy that I almost considered continuing with it, but it just felt too frightening to do.