To think kids still want to play at 7/8?

[RexMyDarling]

Was chatting to a mum who’s dd (7)is in the same year 3 class as my dd (8) and they are good friends. The teacher told the other mum that her daughter was immature because she’s still interested in dolls. Her daughter tends to spend time with other children who are also immature and talk about dolls apparently so teacher clearly means my dd!

I’m sure I was still playing with dolls at that age and beyond and still playing imaginary games until at least 11/12.

is the teacher bu? Or am I? What do ‘normal, mature’ kids play with at 7/8?

My son was gutted when he went into yr7 aged 11 nearly 12, at his new secondary school, and none played imaginary games, rather hanging around in groups, kicking a ball around( he hated football), or tormenting each other. kicking the shit out of my son
So, of course, 7 years old can still play with dolls and toys.
I'd be more concerned with those who don't.

My 7 year old has a room full of dolls and has asked for more for her birthday! I was still playing with dolls until I was 12 though I did pretend they were my did when friends came round towards the end.

Nearly 9 year old has dolls and teddies. Teddies currently partof a school imaginary play session.

It lessens but until it goes away completely and they get putbin the loft shes free to do what she wants with them.

I bet when that teacher was 8 she still liked to play with toys and liked to engage in imaginary play. I very much played with toys at that age.
My 8 and 10 year old boys still love playing with action figures.

What exactly does the teacher think an 8 year old should be doing? In her next breath she probably moans about children having too much screen time.

How sad. What does she want her to do? Should it just be gaming or starting to have an interest in boys? Crazy.

My daughter never played with dolls but at that age children should still be playing with toys .

My DD still played pretend with toys until Y8. I was so grateful for COVID for stretching her childhood that bit longer. What is this teacher expecting a 7 year old to be doing if not playing?

My oldest is 5.5yr and I can't imagine her not wanting to play with dolls in as little as two years. I taught yr3 and yr4 for years in primary school and it was perfectly normal for girls to still be playing with dolls and most of the boys were playing with marvel action figures. This was only 6 years ago so I'm hoping not much has changed since then

I find that an extremely odd comment from the teacher

Were my sister's even

I still secretly play with some of dd's toys when I'm tidying away, I think play and imagination are so important.

It depends how you define play.
In the younger years children might act out scenes with their dolls but as they get older it's often more about designing and making clothes for them, doing their hair etc.
That to me is still "playing with dolls".

LakeTiticaca I'm jealous of your Tressy doll. I wanted one for years and never got one.

Of course children should be playing at that age, imaginary play is so good for them. Mine were still playing with dolls, teddies and many other toys long after they were that age.

My youngest 3 - 11 (yr. 7) 10 (yr. 5) and 7 (yr. 3) yrs old still all play! Cars, dolls, Lego, hours of imaginary play in the garden, climbing trees etc, this is totally normal! DSD 10 (yr. 6) on the other hand, hasn’t played with a toy in a good couple of years, if a screen is not involved then she doesn’t want to know, it’s sad really.

My 7 and 10 year olds were making a log flume for cuddly toys in the garden yesterday (with the hose pipe it transpired a bit later 😬), I think imaginary play is wonderful and also something that brings kids together.

I think it’s likely that your friend is making that up.

Perfectly normal. There was a mum at school complaining she didn’t know what to buy her 6 year old as she didn’t do toys anymore because she was ‘so advanced’. Play is an important part of development.
when went into lockdown DD was 11 and her and her friends would still ‘play’.

My 9yo probably stopped action figures around 8.5, but still does pretend type games with friends, plus sports and board games. He still plays with cuddly toys though- and is the coolest kid in class so it is definitely acceptable (and to be aspired to, as he has that trend-setting effect!)
My 11yo probably stopped around 8, but plays on bikes/ football/ runs lemonade stalls/ draws/ crafts.
My 15yo never did dolls or figures. She did imaginary play with friends till 10/11 and still does lego and build a bear.

My dd played with dolls/ barbies until around age 10. She would still play with them if she was with younger children (and enjoy it!).

My 9yo still loves her barbies. She plays more than her 6yo sister. She’s more in to crafts than imaginary play but will play with other children

One thing I very much like about my DC’s school is that they completely encourage play and childish pastimes. DD came home very excited that “the head has bought a load of Barbies!” that were to play with on the playground. She and a friend got first dibs on them the other day and were delighted to find one with a wheelchair, some different male dolls (one with a Mohawk!) and so on. They’re 9 and she still plays with dolls a lot at home too.

My son was 9 when lockdowns started and that was the end of his interest in his toys, as he wasn't seeing his friends to olay with them 😢

I would have to pull the teacher up on that attitude.

I think lots of children would play with toys for a lot longer if they weren't embarrassed by people with attitudes like that.

I played with dolls until 12.

It's healthy for dc to play! We should be encouraging play into the teen years.