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?

Never played with dolls here. Lots of craft and role play. My child is the odd one out in her class (Yr 3). Everyone else plays with dolls and teddies and she's left out BECAUSE she has different interests.

Of course they should play at that age - play is an important part of child development.

My son is 9 but still plays with his cars/trains/teddies etc.

I think it's sad if people think children shouldn't play 😥

My 11yo still plays with her younger brother. And one of her friends of the same age joins in when she is round. She played with dolls until 8/9 but still does imaginative play. It’s sad when parents are desperate to see their kids mature.

Wow this is very odd. Of course children at 7/8 still want to do small world play with dolls etc! It’s developmentally appropriate and completely normal!

This teacher doesn’t sound like she understands children and child development at all.

Hmm. Did the teacher definitely say this? Or do you only have the other mum's word for it? I would probably speak to the teacher and check it out for myself and go from there.
It's possible the mum was trying to gauge if her daughter is too old for playing with dolls (which she definitely isn't, they still play with dolls way above her age).

I was still playing with barbie dolls at 12 ☺️

My 8yr old DD also in Year 3, plays with Barbie, Our Generation and American Girl dolls?!

Also, when we were in the big play park last week, 3 teens came in (I'd say aged between 14-16) in their work uniforms and were having an absolute BLAST playing on the play frame and chasing each other across the log bridges & down the slides! They were louder than the kids it was lovely to see. I kept hearing "T out! T out!!!"

Reason 3,683 why I home school

Not dolls really but my dd still wanted to 'play' when she started secondary school, but was disappointed and felt a bit of an outsider as the other girls suddenly just stood in groups and chatted about more grown up stuff (boys etc), while the boys mostly played football. She didn't feel like she fit in any more, but to me 11 still seems like an age to play games. I'm sure I did until 14/15, and beyond - still enjoy a board game.

Is she a young teacher, only saying it as when I was an NQT I remember thinking that Y3 children wouldn't have teddy bears! Of course I know it's rubbish but at 22 I just thought they'd be too grown up 🤦🏼‍♀️

I played with my dolls till I was 14 - didn't tell my friends though!!

agree!
DD is heading to secondary school in Sept and I'm dreading her deciding she doesn't want to play with her toys anymore. Back in the 90's when I was her age I think it was much more acceptable to still 'play ' than it is now

My 10 & 12yo's still play. 12yo loves Lego and Warhammer, so that's him set up playing for the rest of his life! He also still likes Duplo because he can build larger scale, and still engineers with the Brio.
10yo recently had a hospital appointment and made a beeline when he saw toy cars and a garage. Loves cuddly toys and action figures. Fidget toys, and nerf/ water/ laser guns still in regular use. Plus board games are life-long play.

I played until about 13-14 in the 90s, which was probably on the older side for toys such as dolls, but other than the risk of being picked on by some prat who thinks they're well mature, it is harmless and probably more beneficial. Certainly compared to filling time heavily with screens.

I might have lots of garish plastic around the house still, but I'm not rushing it away. Childhood is short and adulthood long.

I can not think of a single, sensible reason why a teacher would encourage prematurely stopping play. There is too little play as it is.

It sounds as though that teacher understands nothing about child development. Playing is so important for children. It doesn't have to involve dolls or toys, but play is how children learn about the world. They shouldn't be pushed to give up these activities at such a young age.

I think that children's lives tend to be so structured and controlled these days. And that is not to their benefit. They need the time to invent their own games, to interact with their friends, to develop social skills, to use their imaginations.

Wow, first time I've seen 100% consensus you're not being unreasonable! And of course you're not, I was definitely playing with dolls until at least 11. Maybe it's something about how they're playing that's particularly immature?

Actually, I quite fancy going out to play on my bike, build dens, or kick a ball in the park, and I'm 56. Certainly preferable to Sunday adulting, washing, ironing, cleaning. Being an adult is overrated.