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AIBU?

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Original poster

How old is too old.. Do I stop my DS?

116 replies

DollySaves · 28/03/2017 12:41

My DS (14)Is a very sensitive, caring and polite young man who would do anything for anyone however he still loves to play with his Lego and WWE figures, My DS isn't very sociable and has no interest in going out with his friends after school ( he has a few friends and I have tried to encourage him to spend time with them outside of school) but he has no interest however if it's someone's birthday he will go out, but that's it.

Family have said he is getting too old to play with toys now and should start to be interested in things boys his age would typically enjoy like going out, Music and games consoles ( he has a games console but has no interest) and that letting him play with toys will be bad for his health as he ' needs to grow up' ( he is very mature for his age!)

I am just pleased he is happy and isn't spending hours looking at screens or going out until silly - o clock / getting into the wrong crowds.

AIBU to NOT stop him?

OP posts:
Redpony1 · 28/03/2017 14:29

'Back in the day' my mum would say, before gaming consoles, all 14yolds were playing with toys. Consoles are a new thing, who says he has to play with one! My brothers never did, my frineds son isn't interested in them at all either.

I certainly would not encourage online gaming over real life toy playing personally Smile

CheWasABitOfAHomophobe · 28/03/2017 14:32

DH got this for his 50th. He dropped subtle hints like sending me a link on Amazon and reminding me about it with post-it notes.

Despite being a techy geek, I wouldn't push my children into consoles. I'd encourage him to socialise more but within his own areas (perhaps very slightly outside) of interest. That would be gentle encouragement, not pressure.

Is there a robotics club at school or in the area?

If he's genuinely happy then be happy for him. We're all different. It's what makes life interesting.

How old is too old.. Do I stop my DS?
Aeroflotgirl · 28/03/2017 14:36

That's why they make adult Lego, op! Lego is for all ages.

Pencilvester · 28/03/2017 14:37

My BIL is in his late thirties and still plays with toys! Smile

He has those little army guys that you paint and then do role play battles with. He loves it.

It is entirely harmless. I say let your DS carry on, OP!

statetrooperstacey · 28/03/2017 14:40

Just echoing everyone else really , leave him b he sounds awesome.

ErrolTheDragon · 28/03/2017 14:42

Guess what Cambridge engineering students do in their first week?
teaching.eng.cam.ac.uk/content/preparing-lego-mindstorms-exercise-download

Darn, we only put DD's lego up in the loft last year, will have to get it down again this summer for her to play with.

Personally I prefer k'nex.

loobylouloos · 28/03/2017 14:44

Lego say for ages 3 - 99. Tell them to sod off.

chocatoo · 28/03/2017 14:46

I think that you should stop calling it 'playing with' and describe it as one of his hobbies. I think it would be worth exploring more possibilities for him to socialise but I wouldn't be too concerned whilst he has mates at school. What about amateur radio or model car clubs?

starsorwater · 28/03/2017 14:51

My very nice, cool, bright BIL aged 46 loves lego and builds spectacular models.

Greyhound81 · 28/03/2017 14:54

I have a friend who is in her 30's who loves Lego. She's a perfectly lovely, sociable person with a very grown up job - we just all know she enjoys playing with Lego.

I still read children's pony books from the 60's and 70's. I'm 36.

I really don't see that it matters. He sounds lovely. Kids grow up so quickly and as someone who's OH spends hours on computer games and turns into a complete idiot when on them I would think that was a lucky escape.

Tell them to mind their own.

Rossigigi · 28/03/2017 14:55

All 14 year olds are different. Let him be.
Mine at 14 had a girlfriend (still with the same girl) loved and still does the pc, online gaming and coding. He was mature for his age, and he's turned out just fine. Yet one of his friends is still into Lego and he's just fine too.
What I'm trying to say is that they are all different.

KateMateDateFateLateBateGate · 28/03/2017 14:56

My dear friend, a successful physicist Dr is 44 and still loves playing with lego as does dh.

WhereYouLeftIt · 28/03/2017 14:57

Your family are very unreasonable. There is absolutely nothing wrong with your DS still enjoying Lego at 14. I know where the big Lego stores are because grown men on my Facebook post that they are going to CityX partly to visit said Lego stores. Hell, I quite enjoy playing with Lego myself!

TheMysteriousJackelope · 28/03/2017 15:04

If your DS goes to Brickshelf.com he'll find many photos of Lego constructions built by adults all over the world. There was one man in the US army who builds Lego cranes that can lift really heavy weights.

YouTube has quite a selection of Lego based stop motion animations. There is FIRST Lego League if he wants to start becoming involved in robotics. There may be a team near you that he can join, or he could start one at his school.

I used to go into the Bricklink.com chatroom. That is also a hot bed of Lego fans. Quite a few run Lego based businesses from home selling individual Lego parts and their own constructions on Bricklink.

There is a quite a large Lego based subculture that your DS would probably enjoy joining.

SingingSilver · 28/03/2017 15:07

Don't try to push him away from his harmless hobbies, especially if there's nothing to replace him. If he's happy what more can you ask for? IMO the best thing you can do for him is tell your relatives to mind their own business.

MycatsaPirate · 28/03/2017 15:09

So your 14 year old doesn't bother with screens or those games where they go around killing people and others want him to change?

Nope. Leave him alone. Let him play with his Lego. Tons of lego in this house (mostly my 11 year old dd) but also DP is sitting in the conservatory building a model of the cutty sark as we speak. He's 58.

Much better for him to be using his brain and actively doing something rather than mindlessly blowing shit up on a screen.

PragmaticWench · 28/03/2017 15:17

I don't know where you are but in Suffolk there's a lego construction club for young people, so they can use lego and also socialise, plus do experiments etc.

There might be more around the country.

GandolfBold · 28/03/2017 15:18

My DS has just turned 16. Is a real homebody and although he has friends rarely goes out with them. He loves making stuff out of paper, playing with plastic Mario models and Mario Plushies (which is just a fancy word for cuddly toys really(

I couldn't care less. I know DH has issues with it but I soon slap him down. He is happy, works relatively hard at school, is brilliant with his brother who has ASD and most importantly, he isnt about, hanging around and causing trouble.

Let your DS be. It could be much, much worse.

JellyWitch · 28/03/2017 15:20

My husband is 50 and still plays with Lego and war games figures!

What's the problem?

nannybeach · 28/03/2017 15:22

My DS (40 today) still makes stuff out of lego.

Summersunshine222 · 28/03/2017 15:26

Plenty of adults play with lego. Even on the box it says age age range 4 - 99.

SootSprite · 28/03/2017 15:28

I also love Sylvanian Families too

Limer · 28/03/2017 15:31

Never too old for Lego.

morningconstitutional2017 · 28/03/2017 15:40

I love Lego and I'm 62. I don't get the chance to play with it nearly as much as I'd like. If he's happy why stop him? He'll grow out of it soon enough when he discovers girls and beer. Let him remain in this happy state because it won't last.

Wando1986 · 28/03/2017 15:42

Tell them to sod off. I'd be made up if my kid was 14 and still playing with WWE. My Husband is 35 and he's very excited about being able to play with his old figures with our new son.

Never ever stop your children playing!