AIBU to find a group of small boys just chatting at the playground unusual?

[ShedShedShed]

We go to the local playground most days, and observe the kids generally and know some dog them etc.
What stands out to me is a little group of boys 6,6,6 and 8. They always just stand around talking. Occasionally will sit on swings and chat. Never seem to actually play unless and adult leads them in something like hide and seek or chase. It's like they're teenagers but without the larking around 13 year olds do between chatting.
It's bizarre to me, my DS is 7 and plays with others, racing, helping on monkey bars, playing pirates, football by himself or with others. This group he doesn't play with because they just want to stand around talking about whatever it is they talk about.

Is this usual behaviour you'd expect?

iPad kids would not be standing around making conversation.

Sounds like you need to address your ingrained sex-based stereotypes. You wouldn't have thought twice if a group of girls.

I am wondering if the op is projecting some deep rooted trauma/guilt whatever weird thing they have going on with kids themself, op of you ars this fixated get help

I have never met any individual child exactly the same as another let alone groups, Do all girls always act exactly the same? How boring

Absolutely normal. My DS would spend time talking to his friends in the playground. At 8 some find monkey bars & Co a bit babyish, especially in the smaller playgrounds. The smaller ones obviously go along with it.
BTW DS is a normal, healthy 16yo - just collected his GCSE (with 8 for English) and off to college in September.

Maybe they skipped "Stereotypes for small boys" in the reading scheme?

They could be chatting about games, TikTok, last night's football, anything at all. It's weird to pick up on it and make a post about it.

This sounds like my boy. He’s 9 and will play at the park but will also happily sit with his friends chatting. Usually about football or playing an imaginary game. If there are a lot of loud kids in the park him and his friends will often be at the side somewhere as they’re not too keen on it being too rowdy.

How wonderful!

Did you not see the primary school teacher say it’s perfectly normal?

Noone mentioned iPads. They're chatting to each other. That implies good social interaction doesn't it? The opposite of what you'd expect if they spent all their time on iPads.

Very weird post. There isn't a single correct way to have fun.