Anyone else’s 11/12 year old young for their age?

[Voodooplum]

Ds is 11 and just gone into year 7. He went with most of his primary school friends which was what he wanted. I’d say around 90% of the primary school went.

He’s very young in his ways, still sleeps with teddies, makes ups little games, he isn’t interested in Tik tok or WhatsApp groups, he does play Roblox but most of his friends seem to have grown out of it.

He tells me that a lot of his primary school friends have started vaping, they think it’s funny and clever to get detention at school, they go out riding electric scooters and have girlfriends. I’ve seen the way some of the kids speak on the WhatsApp groups and there is a lot of nastiness and just generally very grown up talk, arguing, swearing, sexual content, of course it’s not all the children but ds just doesn’t want to know.

He hasn’t made any new friends yet and although he does seem to have friends to go round with at school it feels as though a lot of his friends have outgrown him.

Leaves me wondering if he’ll ever find his crowd or if this is just the way most children are today.

Just because you DS does not vape or or rebel like the others, likes his teddies does not make him immature or behind his peers and chances are he has been lucky to have a good and supportive upbringing.

Your DS's actions do not make him immature, he has more sense than his peers, thats all.

He's a good kid, one of best 😃

My girl is 10, 11 in Jan. I’d say she seems a lot younger than her friends
shes in year 6 but still loves her teddies and isn’t interested in nails, makeup etc that all her friends seem to be

she loves animals and nature and like to keep it that way for as long as possible xx

My son is the same age as yours - just into y7. He is so much younger than his peers. He spent a happy few hours with me and his little sister yesterday playing Sylvanian families! He doesn’t have a phone (only a Nokia brick) which has really helped. He goes out sometimes with friends on his bike but most loves just hanging out with us chatting. I have met some other y7 mums whose boys have started high school who said they had no idea how they were getting on because they don’t talk to them. My lovely boy gives me a blow by blow account of every lesson. It isn’t that they’re too young - they’re babies. The other kids have had a childhood cut short in my opinion.

My eldest is 11. I think it’s so cute he still sleeps with his teddies. We don’t allow smartphones or Roblox.
he and his pals all make up little games and play outside a lot.
he loves family bike rides and swimming.
all too soon they’ll become teenagers so I think appreciate them being children for as long as they want

My DD is just like this! I love it about her. Just today I was watching her skipping along with her little sister looking so joyful and innocent. She's in Year 7 and although she had some very close friends at primary (similar personalities), she has struggled to make strong bonds at secondary. She's happy and enjoys school but hasn't clicked with anyone yet, I suspect they are all a lot older-acting.

She doesn't have a phone, not into skincare or brands, and still likes playing with dolls with her sister, make believe games etc. 11 is still so young really - I just think plenty of time for growing up and all that involves.

My son is in yr6 but he isn’t 11 until the end of June, so one of the younger ones. He loves his teddies, Lego, making things etc. Academically he does really well but I do worry he isn’t as 'grown up' as his peers. Don’t get me wrong, I love that he hasn’t grown up too fast but I do worry how he’ll cope socially when it’s time for secondary school.

They sound way too ahead of themselves rather than him being behind. My 12 year old still loves plushies, has no interest in vaping, tiktok etc.