To not allow DS to drink tea and coffee age 12

[user1474221222]

DS started secondary school in September and recently asked if he could have a cup of coffee as a drink when arriving home.

I've said no but as a child of the 1970's I had my first cup of coffee age 4 after been taught how to make one for my parents

So am I just being unreasonable ?

Id rather my 13 year old son drank coffee then a can of monster (im a huge hypocrite coz i drink them)

DD wanted to try coffee. I let her try my strong black coffee. Spent the next 20 minutes wiping the vicinity of the her chair clean as she spat it out immediately (as expected, btw. Couldn't imagine her liking the bitter unsweetened coffee). As it is, she hates the smell of coffee now.
She drinks sweet tea from time to time, when we are out hiking or in a cold but that's it. I can't see any harm in it, to be honest with you.

What an odd question. Mine all drink tea only my daughter has a mocha coffee a day she is 12. All of them were given weak tea as soon as they came off formula milk although I will make the point we all have decaff tea and coffee at home. But outside the home and on holiday or visiting people we drink normal tea and coffee. What else do they drink? You can't have water all the time its not very warming on a winters evening or not very tasty. What else do other peoples children drink?

Yabvu and a bit precious. My ds 5 likes tea, so I get him decaff tea bags and he has one occasionally. Get decaff tea or coffee for your ds.

I wouldn't worry about it. In a couple of years time he might be smoking weed and drinking stella in the park ..... worries about coffee will be a distant memory.

My 14 year old drinks quite a lot of espresso, part of his Nietzsche phase I think. It's better than cigarettes

People used to think that caffeine stunts growth, I think most of the cultural aversion to older children having it stems from that.

YABU

I get you OP.

My DS is 17! If I know he's had a cup of coffee earlier in the day and he asks for coffee straight after dinner when the kettle's going on I refuse to make him coffee and give him quite weak tea instead. Why encourage a caffeine habit? And no, to my knowledge he doesn't drink fizzy drinks containing caffeine.

There are alternatives - barley cup and dandelion coffee are nice.

I actively encouraged my 12yo to have a strong coffee in the morning. Anything to get him moving and promote some focus at school. Judge away!

My kids (14 and 11) like a cup of tea in the morning, and after school. DS1 also buys a mochachino at school some days.

I have told them to be careful with Monster and Redbull (and coke) as too much caffeine can make you feel headachy-dizzy and nauseous. (It does to me!) though. Maybe this sends confusing signals?

There is something nice about them joining in with the adults for a cuppa, it makes them feel grown up. Also, a hot drink on a cold day is just a lovely thing.

I once took my eye off the ball and let them have unlimited coca cola at a bbq (when they were younger) and they ended up in screaming heaps on the floor, having had a bout 5 cans each , completely unmanageable. We all still remember this, and are hopefully learning that caffeine in small doses is ok...

Whether they drink milky tea with a spoonful of sugar, or a glass of ribena after school is neither here nor there IMO, when it comes to sugar.

as to stunting growth... I would welcome that, looming giants that they are

As to telling the 6ft1 14 yr old who shaves and has a man's voice that he's too little to drink tea, that's just funny really.

I think it is interesting that we worry about caffeine, but many of our kids would pick up a bottle of fiz if they were thristy. Ds is 14 and by choice he would buy lucozade if he bought a drink.

That is MUCH worse for you that a cup of tea. For all sorts of reasons. He knows it is unhealthy and doesn't buy it often, but still...

What else do other peoples children drink?

My DD will be 7 soon so she'll murder for hot chocolate with marshmallows.

rogue You are kidding right? He is 17 not 17 months might be time to cut the apron strings... I can almost guarantee you he is drinking a lot worse than fizzy drinks. I am continually perplexed by how precious some people are on here.

I would let a 12 year old have tea.

Interesting. I drunk tea as a child, and coffee by the time as was about 9 or 10. But my oldest child DS is 11 and I would not dream of giving him either. Tea has quite a bit of caffeine too. He drinks water, and very occasionally diluted orange juice. My DD of 9 drinks water, and very occasionally diluted apple juice, or warm milk. Neither have shown any interest in coffee or tea. Until their bodies are mature I would rather they didn't drink it.

I'm downhearted that none of my children drink tea or coffee. I'm obsessed!!!

Mine didn't drink tea or coffee, or the decaf versions, which just train them to enjoy the taste. Caffeine is bad for people and very addictive. I am a complete coffee addict and I wish I weren't.

Load of fussing over nothing.

rogue cut the apron strings, your ds is nearly an adult. He is 17 not 7, the odd cup of tea is ok. Why not encourage decaf tea or coff, as others have said these are worse alternatives. Better a cup of tea, than som nocus blue liqid from a bottle that I've seen being sold.

I've been drinking tea since I was months old, the 10yo will drink the old cup of tea and maybe a few sips of coffee especially if I've bought it from a chain shop . My youngest won't entertain hot drinks, I think the odd cup won't hurt.

I've been drinking tea since I was months old, the 10yo will drink the old cup of tea and maybe a few sips of coffee especially if I've bought it from a chain shop . My youngest won't entertain hot drinks, I think the odd cup won't hurt.

I've been drinking tea since I was months old, the 10yo will drink the old cup of tea and maybe a few sips of coffee especially if I've bought it from a chain shop . My youngest won't entertain hot drinks, I think the odd cup won't hurt.

And at that she I woukd have thrown your weak brew down the sink, and made myself a stronger one. Hate bilge water tea, tastes like my mums tea😩

I must say the parent of the 17 year old who is given weak tea if he asks for coffee must be kidding him/herself if he/she believes that parents control what 17 year olds drink, unless that is the world's most docile 17 year old!

I credit coffee with my A level grades - I did 4 essay subject and procrastinated quite a lot, then churned out my course work in an intense, sleep deprived, cafine fueled series of all night writing sessions. Apparently what cafine helped me write was better than the more desultory, well rested work I'd done when under less pressure earlier in the year as all my final grades were As after being a solid, predictable B student previously :o