To allow ds aged 10 and dd aged 7 share a bed.

[EveOnline2016]

They have both got their own rooms but prefer to share a bed every night.

Ds has a double bed and there is enough room for both of them.

My mum says it's illegal, but surely that's not right.

Why are same gender children fine, when opposite not - all the meaningful concerns are as relevant to same gender as opposite.

Masturbation happens for a large number of children pre-puberty, so I don't see puberty as particularly relevant, I could even imagine why the association of masturbation with sex may make it less likely to involve a sibling rather than more.

Of course puberty often increases the demands for puberty in individuals, and that is the key thing here, the demands of privacy of the individual, they are the ones who can decide where to sleep, they are not forced to choose to sleep together.

Of course experimenting cam and does happen any time/place but it must be more likely and less likely to be stopped by a parent in a bed at night than during the day in the front room

Tits not even about being gay - if it's about experimenting, actual attraction doesn't come into it.

I have low opinions of men already, I'd rather not put boys in that category.

I feel by demonising boys you are making them into the monsters some men are. Instead of showing them appropriate ways to behave, people just go hysterical.

Very saddening.

There is a huge middle ground between the bedroom at night and the front room during the day with the parent in the next room (or close by). To stop siblings having a sleepover in the same room or bed because they might do something is just a ridiculous reaction.

Oh I know sarcasm I just didn't want anyone replying that if they're curious about bodies then they'll experiment woth their own.
As far as I'm concerned it doesn't matter what sex they are as long as they're happy with it then leave them be.

I'm once again living in a parallel universe. It would never occur to me to separate a 7 and 10 year old on this basis.

No Museum - you're living in the real world, as opposed to MN where everyone and everything is to be feared/challenged/NC/doubted.

I know NO ONE who would let their children share a bed at this age. That boy will start secondary school soon.

I can imagine that if you make it clear that you think it 'disgusting' (yeah, "get a grip" is right) then NO-ONE is going to 'admit' to you that their children have sleepovers for fear that you'll spontaneously combust. As for starting secondary school 'soon', that depends where you are. My v nearly 10 year old doesn't start high school for another 2.5 years yet.

I suspect you know NO-ONE that wants to tell your judgemental arse anything.

Most people would find it strange. It's only on here fifteen year olds and twenty year olds get in bed together.

No, most people think it's perfectly fine for 2 children to share a bed. They are kids. Don't sexualise perfectly normal child behaviour.

Wow..some of the reactions on this thread are truly bizarre! My ds 10 and dd 9 still request to have 'sleepovers' at the weekends. They are best friends and love staying up a bit late listening to music and chatting. We love hearing them laughing together, and there's never been anything untoward about their sleepovers at all, they're just really close. I suspect that my DS will want to stop this when he goes to secondary, but for now, there is no reason for us to put a stop to it!

I don't think it's sexual just really not on. Do they share a bath as well? Does the boy come in women's changing rooms?

Exactly Royal. Don't conflate 15 and 20 year old siblings sharing a bed with children milly - perspective.

Why is it 'not on' - try and verbalise why your reaction to perfectly normal childhood behaviour is so negative.

I asked them both why they like sharing, ds said he loves watching my little pony with dd.

Ds is ASD so mentally he isn't 10.

We had a little chat about puberty and body changes. And how it will mean sleeping in different bed but it will still be ok to watch a movie together and then say goodnight and in thier own beds.

Because it's a very intimate thing to sleep in the same bed as someone because you actually want to - rather than having to due to being on holiday

Well that's good although I think it would have helped if your explained about his SEN earlier!

I wouldn't allow this.

Not on??? Sorry...I don't get that. The only thing I can think is that if you think it's 'not on', then you are sexualising their behaviour when it's far from that.

It's intimate if you're having sex - but sharing a bed doesn't equal sex, and especially not at that age. I wonder why you're so focused on the sexual side of things?

Sharing a bed isn't intimate.

And how would it have helped if op had mentioned SEN sooner? It has nothing to do with it.

Again, intimacy is not always sexual either! It's closeness, knowing and trusting someone and wanting to be close...they are children! Children want to be close, we are a snuggly family, and my ds and I would rather foster a loving relationship between our children than make them think that their choice to be close is somehow inappropriate. They would both be mortified if I had to explain why they couldn't do it any more. We aren't forcing them, either...it's always been entirely their choice.