To be utterly sick of toxic year 5 friendships?

[JudgingJudysGarlands]

Listening to the way DS's friends speak and act towards him, I'm just so fed up of them all (including DS). The silly games, making up lies to tell parents/teachers about each other, threatening that they won't be friends anymore if they can't get their own way. The manipulation and constant picking of sides, one of them always being targeted.

Is this really what friendships are like now? It makes me mad because it all just seems so toxic.

I've just reached a point where I definitely don't want another eight years of this going into secondary school. I can't even think about year 6 without dreading another year of this.

However, then I think, even if he did move schools - will he just meet more 'friends' like this??

We’re in y4 and it is heating up. I never know what kind of mood dd will be in when I pick her up.

I definitely haven't experienced this and mine is in Y5, but it's a small school and honestly, if anyone got too bitchy about anyone else, well, they wouldn't really have many friends. I think there's only 5 girls in her year (out of about 12 total in Y5), so they're stuck with each other no matter what. But no one as far as I know has a phone or access to social media. Dd's one friend does have a phone, but she lives 50/50 with both parents so it's mostly for communicating with them and older siblings. So there's no WhatsApp groups, none of that. I expect it will change in Y7 though with a big school and more freedom.

Phones!!! Don’t give them phones

@CalistoNoSolo Yeah, sure.

Just pitching in bc my DC is in y5 and it is awful here too! Boys bullying, name calling, piss taking, inappropriate language etc. My poor DC says he no longer likes school :

I agree with PP above who says don't give them phones. A lot of what I am hearing come back from my DC seems fuelled by phone access e.g. social media, inappropriate language that makes me assume some kids are accessing very adult content etc!!

Hopefully will get easier soon.