When should 'let's pretend' games stop?

[OrmIrian]

My DCs have always played pretend games. I thought it was a good thing. But DS#1 is now 11 and yesterday when we had a day out he and DD were playing together (something involving meerkats ) and we met a friend with her 2 boys who are a similar age to mine. When she realised what my children were doing she raised her eyebrowns and made some comment along the lines of 'mine gave that up years ago'. Which might explain of course why a visit to Glastonbury Abbey bored her's rigid and why mine were happy as larry.

But is it odd. For an 11yr old?

Glad there are so many lets-pretending DCs out there. I used to play horses in school until I was about 12 or 13 I suppose But I had just assumed that the world had moved on. Many DCs I know seem too sophisticated.

Yes it's a shame.

I think that even teenagers will do a bit of 'let's pretend' occasionally - but they'd be dead embarrassed if they were caught at it!

Mine are 12 & 14 and last year were busy playing silly make-believe games when we were on holiday with friends whose DCs were 16, 14 and 12.

I think they're more likely to do it in a holiday situation than at home.

I used to love doing let's pretend with my two when they were still into it

Thinking about it... have any of you done those 'Murder Mystery' games in a box? You all dress up as a character and act the part for the evening. What's that if not 'let's pretend'?

That is true forty. But personally I'd rather cut off my toes than do something like that these days. I blame my mum - she nagged me into doing am dram when I was a teen and I've never recovered. I am quite good at 'being things' with my DCs though,

I never really gave up.

I realised at about 12/13 that it was becoming socially unacceptable so channelled it into a healthy daydream life instead. Now at the age of 34 I'm channelling my daydream talent into writing

Honestly, so much in our education system suppresses the imagination as an undesirable thing. I think any spark left should be encouraged and developed where ever possible.

Incidentally, I do think a lot of it depends on the personality of the child. I was worried for ages that ds1 didn't do ANY imaginative play - it still isn't one of his top activities at age 7, although at least I know he can in order to join in with his friends and his brother.

I was thrilled when ds2 first picked up a book at age 18 mths, turned it over, holding it by the spine and flapped it saying "bird". Even now, ds2 will think of the "let's pretend" game and encourage ds1 to join in.

I think it is wonderful if a child's imagination is fostered for as long as possible. A world-weary, cynical 11 year old is to be pitied imo!

Let them carry on until they want to give it up. I think it is the sign of a creative personality - I hope ds is still imagining at 11.

it is wonderful that they are still dooing that

her eyebrow raising is why her kids don't do it.

My mum is 69 and plays batman and robin with my kids

DH and I always smile whenever we come out of the cinema, because sooner or later one or other of the oldest 2 say 'Come on, let's play XXX. I'll be X and you can be Y'. And then there's 10 mins negotiation about who is doing what and being whom. DS#2 tends to get dragged in, but tends to spoil things when he wants a dinosaur or a dragon in every game

I definately never gave up and I'm 44.

Only yesterday, after two hours of GS's incessant tantrums and refusaly to do anything, I built a 'tent' in the living room (with GS watching curiously). Laid in it with my head sticking out staring at the ceiling.
GS asked what I was doing and I replied that I was in my tent in the middle of a field counting the stars and wondering what kind of animals lived on that biggest planet.. there...the one on the right.
GS's reply? "ooo, that one with the blus rings round it? the one that the spaceship has just come from"

Two hours of complete madness and chaos followed with us being chased by aliens!!

You should be pleased that your 11 year old is still enjoying himself and using his imagination.

Well I know for a fact that RubberDuck was playing imagination games at age 10

Now, do you want to be BA Baracas? Or can I?

[regresses]

I was still into 'let's pretend' games when was 12/13.

I think many adults are into them, just in a different capacity iyswim

DS1 (12) still utilises his dressing-up outfits on occasion, and regularly plays 'lets pretend' type games. He writes stories every day, and has an amazing imagination.

DS1 (10) hasn't ever really been into dressing up, but will occasionally join in with his brother at the pretend stuff, although he quickly gets bored. He wants to be a businessman, and is very practical.

Completely different personalities.

TigerFeet: ... I thought you were always Face?