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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think my kids are quite innocent / young compared to their peers?

36 replies

runforyourdog · 30/06/2022 08:23

I'm just starting to realise that my DC (DD7 and DS5) friends are into more 'grown up' stuff, for example some of DDs class are starting with with 'toys are for babies' type comments, most of them play roblox etc. My son is only in reception but he's he still likes his dinos and cars Where as his buddies seem to have moved onto super hero's and things like that.

They both just like playing with teddies, dolls, dinos and can't see that changing any time soon. DD still loves her princess dresses.

I mean I'm all for kids being kids as long as possible but I don't want them to not fit in with their buddies at school or seem babyish. Should I just be pleased and embrace it or try and encourage the 'cooler' stuff?

OP posts:
Danikm151 · 30/06/2022 08:24

Let them be kids. They will grown and then be into other stuff. If they are happy let them carry on

Danikm151 · 30/06/2022 08:24

*will grow not grown

MolliciousIntent · 30/06/2022 08:28

I actually think this does matter a little bit, it can be hard to feel like you don't fit in with what other kids do/think/like. Especially for girls. How does DD feel about it?

ZenNudist · 30/06/2022 08:33

Don't be in a rush for them to grow up. Lots of dc will have older siblings and cousins so will have older influences. Let them play with what they are happy with.

Your 5yo is going to have older interests than your 7yo.

I think you will find that a child who is into roblox etc can also be into teddies etc. My nearly 12yo is sooooo grown up but then has a "blanky" and enjoys the same things as his 8yo brother sometimes.

lljkk · 30/06/2022 08:34

Day after finishing his A-levels, My 18yr reorganised all his lego & then browsed the online catalogues for hours deciding what to buy next. It's ok that they like what they like.

TheWayoftheLeaf · 30/06/2022 08:40

I know grown adults who are still into dinosaurs and cars lol

TheWayoftheLeaf · 30/06/2022 08:41

And I played with Bratz Dolls until I was nigh on 11! Leave them be.

itsgettingweird · 30/06/2022 08:49

I would t encourage either - I'd let your children guide you.

If they have concerns about what they are playing and wish to get superhero toys or Roblox I would allow it and support them to fit in with their peers.

But if they are happy with what they are playing with I'd leave it and encourage them to forge their own path and be happy.

I think you'll find over the next 2 years or so they'll find a balance of both and will find friends who still like toys as well as have friend with differing interests.

hangrylady · 30/06/2022 08:56

Don't worry about it. My nearly 12 year old DD still has a cheeky play with dolls and sylvanian families at home. She wouldn't be seen dead down the park with them though!

Meatshake · 30/06/2022 09:00

Superheroes doesn't seem that grown up. My 3 year old is hulk and spider man obsessed, doesn't mean he's watched the films- he likes the cartoons and Lego vids.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/06/2022 09:02

Ours played with toys until teenaged years. Don’t push them into growing you, they’re very young.

Danascully2 · 30/06/2022 09:07

I wonder this about my 8 year old too - he seems happy with Lego, tv etc and not Roblox/Minecraft. He doesn't really have a suitable device to play them on but if he seemed really interested then we would sort that out. I do worry that he might be a bit the odd one out but he seems happy. Would seem a bit weird to be encouraging him to do gaming/screentime instead of his current interests but I do worry about it.

AngelinaFibres · 30/06/2022 09:12

TheWayoftheLeaf · 30/06/2022 08:40

I know grown adults who are still into dinosaurs and cars lol

My husband is 60. He has a huge lego model
( recommended age 5 to 90 apparently) every Christmas. His brother and BIL do the same but with different kits so they can swap.BIL is 76.
Let them be Op.. The other children's comments " toys are for babies" are just parroting things older children have said to them. Imaginative play is hugely important for development and mental wellbeing

SheepingStandingUp · 30/06/2022 09:17

Superheros are an odd one in that I don't think it does denote maturity of taste. DTwins will play with Spiderman whilst DS plays with Sonic. DTwins are two. He's just a figure who looks cool. Sometimes Spiderman hangs our with the Roy Story gang and sometimes drives his motorbike, but only is he can get Woody or Sonic off it. Its all just imaginative play. He also doesn't have access to Roblox etc but I'd look into it if he asked.

Just give them opportunities to play wiry a range of toys, give them access to the catalogue at Xmas and let them lead

Daftasabroom · 30/06/2022 09:22

DS 17 still "plays" Lego, pretty advanced technic to be fair but any kind of creative play is good.

Daftasabroom · 30/06/2022 09:24

DS also built a working calculator in Minecraft

InChocolateWeTrust · 30/06/2022 09:28

I am thrilled that my DS5 is relatively "immature" normal in his interests. There are kids in his class talking about tv shows suited to much older kids, bringing in violent role play they don't understand from watching films rates 12+, using incredibly rude language etc. They are spending a lot of time on screens.

My DC is happy watching paw patrol and pj masks, loves dinosaurs and cars and making stuff out of cardboard boxes. Most of his role play involves pretending to be animals. It is brilliant and I'm so glad he hasnt been influenced by peers yet.

BiasedBinding · 30/06/2022 09:29

SheepingStandingUp · 30/06/2022 09:17

Superheros are an odd one in that I don't think it does denote maturity of taste. DTwins will play with Spiderman whilst DS plays with Sonic. DTwins are two. He's just a figure who looks cool. Sometimes Spiderman hangs our with the Roy Story gang and sometimes drives his motorbike, but only is he can get Woody or Sonic off it. Its all just imaginative play. He also doesn't have access to Roblox etc but I'd look into it if he asked.

Just give them opportunities to play wiry a range of toys, give them access to the catalogue at Xmas and let them lead

I agree re superhoes. My 4yo was given a Spider-Man costume as part of a bundle of handmedown clothes. He has never watched any Spider-Man cartoons or anything and doesn’t really have a clue what he does (he asks me things like “can Spider-Man fly?”) but loves running around pretending to be Spider-Man anyway

bumpytrumpy · 30/06/2022 09:31

Daftasabroom · 30/06/2022 09:24

DS also built a working calculator in Minecraft

My ds would love this - can you link a book or you tube where he learned please?

InChocolateWeTrust · 30/06/2022 09:33

Oh and my DS has absolutely no idea what roblox is. Is likes superheroes (spiderman, batman) but hasn't actually watched any films etc. He has a spiderman themed "first comic book" aimed at children age 5-7 but that's it. His main understanding of superheroes is that you dress up in a cool outfit and charge round the house rescuing your sibling/the cat/your cuddly toys from "bad guys".

TheYearOfSmallThings · 30/06/2022 09:40

I think a certain amount of it is just talk. To hear DS(7)'s classmates chatting you would think they were up all night paying GTA. In reality many of them aren't allowed near screens all week and when they come for a playdate they ignore the electronics in favour of the bucket of Superzings.

And in my experience all reception boys still like Dinos and cars. Many of them will NEVER grow out of that, let alone by 5.

womaninatightspot · 30/06/2022 09:44

Do their friends have older siblings. My 7yo twins are big minecraft fans as they have older brothers who like it. Screen time is v. limited in our house and they do a lot of playing with traditional toys. However minecraft is cooler to talk about in school.

redwaterbottle · 30/06/2022 09:52

Real life play is so important to child- I'd be encouraging it. My dc10 is currently upstairs setting up a barbie scene and waiting in their cousin (8) coming around. She wouldn't play barbies with same aged friends but I think she secretly loves getting the chance to do it.

fUNNYfACE36 · 30/06/2022 10:03

I think lego, and some other construction tests are in the same age category as say jigsaw puzzles and crafting materials - suitable for children and adults
I have have found playmobile appeals up yo about 10 or 11 too
I think a lot of the time parents think a kid has grown out of a toy they haven't properly grown into yet iykwim

MiniMoosey · 30/06/2022 10:06

My 8 year old is the same. It does make her a bit of the odd one out though which I worry about.