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

[runforyourdog]

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?

Yes, we've had that.

At 11 & 9, we're still drowning in toys because they still play with things like the wooden trainset, duplo, figures, vehicles and toy soldiers. I haven't been able to clear much out!

They Minecraft, Roblox and Fortnite too. Far more than enough! So the physical play is a relief and a very healthy habit.

It’s not that your DC are young for their age, it’s that a lot of DC are too old for their age. This is not a good thing.

Meh, leave them be. My phone case has dinosaurs on it and I'm nearly 40. They're only little still, and if they're happy then who cares? If (like someone I know) you're still using bibs for your children when they're almost 10 then wondering why they have problems when they hit high school, perhaps you should nip it in the bud asap.

If they're happy they're happy. Peer pressure will inavraibly kick in at some point so I wouldn't worry about it (when that happens that'll be a whole new world of fun).

Me and my friends played Barbies until around 10. We would set up all the furniture and dolls houses on the landing and refused to take it down at night so we could play again in the morning. Everyone had to step over barbie furniture until we resumed. I know have a very creative mind and a big imagination so I would encourage it.

My 9yo has just started to talk about getting rid of barbie.
Mr "Rexy" Dinosaur is going nowhere (foot tall plastic dinosaur shes had since she was 18 months old)
My 11yo collects Schleich horses.

As for Lego... dont even go there. I think we could build a life size house out of it. Much of it belongs to DH and me!

My 11yo is perhaps a bit naive for Secondary school, but in a nice way.

It's likely to be those with older siblings I'd think? I know my youngest played/watched things generally for older children much sooner than my eldest did.

Mind you, they both are very choosy with what TV they watch/games they play - they don't like anything scary or violent or even overly exciting (eg. Gremlins or Indiana Jones are totally out for them, they've skipped a few of the marvel movies because they think they look scary) where other kids even at primary were watching Squid Game!

I think it's better to teach resilience than conformity - and anyone bullying is the problem to be dealt with, rather than your child having to re-shape themselves to avoid the bully.

Mine were exactly the same, it’s not a bad thing in the slightest.
I imagine that any PP who say it’s a worry would be horrified if you suggested telling them about Santa and they wrap gifts from him in different paper to keep the illusion going.
Your children will be fine

I think in most school classes there’s half and half- I’d say let them go on as they are and if they want to get into that stuff then you can look at it. The difference between my older two and younger two at that age is night and day-the younger two don’t do art, read or play without constantly being guided into it, all they want to do is play or talk gaming or YouTube and I find it very sad-they’re definitely less interested in the world around them, and in need of constant stimulation, they don’t create their own fun. I hate screens!!!!

The alternative is a bit depressing in my mind, at that age and I include ‘7’ just my two were still in to the Julia Donaldson books, we had the songbooks and they would make masks of the story and perform a little show. They enjoyed the films as well! It was endless playmobil, Lego but tbh in Reception DD was still playing with her Tellytubbies characters and she adored Peter Rabbit Cbeebies cartoon and we had all the corresponding toys, the treehouse for Peter rabbit was actually her Christmas present when she was 5! She still plays with playmobil secretly and has just turned 11, I think we are seeing the end of that chapter but she is also doing music videos with her friends at sleepovers and in all honesty everything is fine. My 15 year old DS played with lego up until 12ish, I wish he would do that now, instead I’m just panicking about his whereabouts on a Friday night! Again normal teenage stuff, don’t rush them in to growing up too fast!

Thanks everyone. Seems pretty unanimous! Let them get on with it! :-)