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What is it that makes y6 girls cool?

51 replies

LemonLimeFresca · 19/12/2024 20:06

At state school primary carol service today and noticed an air of cool around some of the kids (not mine)
How do they get it?
And so young
This is my 3rd time observing and by y6 you already know who those kids are
Is it cool parents?
I can't work it out

OP posts:
popandchoc · 19/12/2024 20:38

Elder siblings for some of them i imagine. My youngest is year 5 but her sister is year 9 so she is exposed to a lot of stuff teens are into.

Jifmicroliquid · 19/12/2024 20:44

In my experience the ‘cool’ kids are the ones who are more mature in terms of their likes and interests- fashion and make-up for girls etc. Often they are into things that are aimed at older kids.
Kids who are less mature in terms of their interests (perhaps still enjoying toys, cartoons etc) are rarely those that are considered ‘cool’ by other kids.

BlueSilverCats · 19/12/2024 20:44

Assuming you're talking about the stereotypical "cool" of hair ,makeup, clothes etc.

Exposure and access to more grown up stuff/content.

Either in the family , parents/older siblings/cousins or on line.

I don't see it as a good thing.

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Microgal · 19/12/2024 20:54

Funny you say that I was at my dd’s Carol service and I noticed that my dd is the one giving off the cool girl vibes along with one of her friends 😅…I have no idea why it’s obvious with her more than the others (other than the fact that she’s my dd) but one of the other mums noticed that she was so grown up and cool. Anyway, she’s very sporty and fit, into skincare ( not that that’s obvious as such) and she plays the guitar. I think she’s great 😁

ThatCoralMaker · 19/12/2024 20:58

I think the ones who give off that air are the ones who think they are grown up and know a little bit too much.
At our school carol concert , also today, they were identifiable by refusing to wear a silly hat with the rest of the class and not singing.

Ineedanewsofa · 19/12/2024 21:03

Microgal · 19/12/2024 20:54

Funny you say that I was at my dd’s Carol service and I noticed that my dd is the one giving off the cool girl vibes along with one of her friends 😅…I have no idea why it’s obvious with her more than the others (other than the fact that she’s my dd) but one of the other mums noticed that she was so grown up and cool. Anyway, she’s very sporty and fit, into skincare ( not that that’s obvious as such) and she plays the guitar. I think she’s great 😁

Slightly off topic but please make sure she’s careful with the skincare, anything containing actives like retinol can destroy the skin barrier at her age

Microgal · 19/12/2024 21:04

ThatCoralMaker · 19/12/2024 20:58

I think the ones who give off that air are the ones who think they are grown up and know a little bit too much.
At our school carol concert , also today, they were identifiable by refusing to wear a silly hat with the rest of the class and not singing.

Well your theory is wrong for my dd, she wore the hat and a Christmas jumper, and most certainly doesn’t give off ‘I know so much’ air…she also sang and played the guitar so she got right in there involvement wise

Microgal · 19/12/2024 21:04

Ineedanewsofa · 19/12/2024 21:03

Slightly off topic but please make sure she’s careful with the skincare, anything containing actives like retinol can destroy the skin barrier at her age

All very basic skincare yes. None of those serums

magicalmrmistoffelees · 19/12/2024 21:05

I have a year 6 girl who is so insanely far from cool in the conventional sense… she absolutely couldn’t care less about skin care, or Tik Tok, or Nike Pros, or White Fox, or all the other stuff that the ‘cool kids’ seem to be in to.
However she is so secure in herself and her style, and so uncaring of what anyone else thinks about her that she’s the coolest person I know.

HPandthelastwish · 19/12/2024 21:06

DD had her own sense of style very early on, she's not into trends that her peers around her are into etc but has a confident air about her. She's always had control of how she wears her hair opting for a pixie cut since she was 6 and an undercut in the teen years.

I have a photo of her at about 5 wearing bow tie, navy + white polka dot braces and lime green trousers, red Dr Martens and 10 years on she rocks the Dark Academia style.

I don't think she'd fall into the 'cool' popular gang but more 'cool' has her own style. It was noticeable in year 6 the girls that had access to mobiles, tight tube skirts in the summer, straightening their hair and worrying about it rather than the gingham dress others wore and looking like they'd been dragged through a hedge backwards.

DD is also an only child and I think that brings a level of maturity that others might not have yet, DDs world was very adult centric compared to her friends who had younger siblings.

LemonLimeFresca · 19/12/2024 21:07

Yes maybe its older siblings
But there was one who is an oldest child and seems to be very confident and yes older than the younger ones who still like cartoons etc

OP posts:
LetsNCagain · 19/12/2024 21:08

At that age in can be as simple as - they've just started puberty and so are taller and slightly more mature looking. I did by that age and was one of the tallest girls in y7. I finished up 5ft4, distinctly average height

Blankscreen · 19/12/2024 21:09

I've really noticed a divide in dds year 6 class this year between the ''cool' kids and the not so cool kids.

I think it tends to be the ones with older siblings that are more grown up and perceived to be 'cool'.

If you have a 14 year old sister who is wearing white fox then it's likely the 11 year old sibling will also want to. Same with North face coats, Nike pro leggings and specific trainers tc etc.

If the 11 year old girl is the eldest then they are probably the ones still wearing flowery leggings and a pink anorak

BlueSilverCats · 19/12/2024 21:09

ThatCoralMaker · 19/12/2024 20:58

I think the ones who give off that air are the ones who think they are grown up and know a little bit too much.
At our school carol concert , also today, they were identifiable by refusing to wear a silly hat with the rest of the class and not singing.

I think that’s also a big part of it. They worry of what other people think /say so they don't dare to be silly, have a bit of fun, laugh at themselves etc.

I remember one of my y6's cringing on MY behalf because I was wearing cat shoes. Grin

Microgal · 19/12/2024 21:10

LemonLimeFresca · 19/12/2024 21:07

Yes maybe its older siblings
But there was one who is an oldest child and seems to be very confident and yes older than the younger ones who still like cartoons etc

Yeah my dd is the older child. And countrary to some of the things being said here…would die if she had to wear a tube skirt or a crop top for that matter! She thinks crop tops are awful!! She also does not have TikTok or social media.

TickingAlongNicely · 19/12/2024 21:12

Unfortunately, In my DDs class the ones that believed themselves to be "cool" were actually the snobs and bullies. Hopefully not a universal experience! It was a very Mean Girl vibe.
But her year group was known as the one with the most social issues. Never really bonded apparently (DD joined in Yr3) for no discernable reason.

Fortunately at Secondary the issues have been diluted.

I do agree its more an air of self confidence than anything else.

Username12284949 · 19/12/2024 21:12

I’m not sure I often wonder the same. I wasn’t a cool kid but my oldest daughter is and it was clear from a young age. I don’t think my younger daughter will be though so in both my daughters cases it’s had nothing to do with having a cool mum or sibling.

BlueSilverCats · 19/12/2024 21:14

@LemonLimeFresca maybe you should clarify what exactly you mean by "cool" ?

Fuzzyandwarm · 19/12/2024 21:15

Self confidence

5128gap · 19/12/2024 21:15

Having something aspirational to their peers. The specifics will vary depending on what's important in that particular environment. So it could be anything - good looks, the right clothes, being sporty, wealthy, a bit of a rebel, having a strong social offer (throwing great parties, easy going parents with open house) Cool kids have high social value amongst their peers. They have whatever is valued.

Microgal · 19/12/2024 21:15

Username12284949 · 19/12/2024 21:12

I’m not sure I often wonder the same. I wasn’t a cool kid but my oldest daughter is and it was clear from a young age. I don’t think my younger daughter will be though so in both my daughters cases it’s had nothing to do with having a cool mum or sibling.

@Username12284949 I’m glad someone else on here will admit to their dd having an air of “cool girl”. My DD couldn’t be kinder, she is loved by her whole school. Contrary to some generalisations on here, and assume you’re dd is too. 😌

Gowlett · 19/12/2024 21:19

I think cool-ness is innate, and decided by the kids.
Sort of like how Kate Moss just IS cool. She just is.

SellFridges · 19/12/2024 21:19

DD was called out in her Y6 graduation as being “the cool one”. When her teacher listed the reasons why it was all because she got to do a lot of stuff - she plays sport, we take them to festivals and gigs, we visit cities, she watches a lot of live sport. We value experiences very, very highly. I joke with my friends that it should have been me getting called out for being cool.

Back then it was me taking the lead, now she pesters me for gig tickets or to go somewhere or other pretty much every week.

SellFridges · 19/12/2024 21:20

Oh, and I do have an open house as well. Gid knows how many of them are coming round tomorrow afternoon, but I’ve bought a lot of crisps and booze for the parents!

Microgal · 19/12/2024 21:24

SellFridges · 19/12/2024 21:19

DD was called out in her Y6 graduation as being “the cool one”. When her teacher listed the reasons why it was all because she got to do a lot of stuff - she plays sport, we take them to festivals and gigs, we visit cities, she watches a lot of live sport. We value experiences very, very highly. I joke with my friends that it should have been me getting called out for being cool.

Back then it was me taking the lead, now she pesters me for gig tickets or to go somewhere or other pretty much every week.

@SellFridges yes I think the sports is a huge huge part in it, the being a part of the team, working closely together and the sports my dd plays are extremely central to our community and school. She is one of only 5 girls in her class of 9 and they are all very close, they regard her highly and she does of them too. And I agree on the experiences front, we do a lot (although not festivals as they are not my thing 🤣) but we travel and go to musicals etc quite a bit. She’s an all rounder I suppose.