At what age do girls show an interest in boys?

[mykiddies]

I'm asking cause my 10 1/2 year old has shown an interest in a boy from school. He is in her class and they have all been from when they started. A few of the other girls would be the same saying such and such is going out with whoever (boyfriend/girlfriend). My dd communicates with her classmates on msn messenger and while I was using the computer the other day this boy's messages were popping up along the lines of `we can't hold hands later' and ilu xxx. At a school disco she told me they were dancing together, you know with arms round each other. While I was doing a pick up from a little outing they had organised I was talking to the boy's mother and she said she knew and it's all innocent but she does seem fond of him. Goodness I didn't think these things started as early as this, well I was 16 for goodness sake (though obviously remember liking a boy in P6. Any thoughts anyone?

I used to have lots of crushes at about this age. Brother's mates, men in uniform, even security guards at the supermarket!
Had "boyfriends" at this age too, but nothing more than holding hands. Tbh I didnt really think about it, just went with the flow.
I know I will have trouble with this when my DD gets older and I know her dad will not want to know!

I'm sure it's all a totally innocent crush. But it does rather support the idea of talking to children (gently) about sex and relationships from an early age. You never quite know when they'll get hit by cupid's dart.

I remember having a boyfriend at that age! It was totally innocent, we held hands and played together in the playground. I don't think kissing or anything sexual crossed either of our minds tbh

DD(11) got her first "boyfriend" about 6 months ago - they are still holding hands etc but I am confident nothing else is happening between them. Not sure I'll be saying the same in a few years time though

DS age 8 appears to have a girlfriend who sends him little love letters saying 'I love you' and it seems there has been a certain amount of 'kiss chase' going on in the playground.

A lot of Yr 6 seem to have boyfriend/girlfriend but really its just friends and hand holding and copying older brothers and sisters. They get 'the talk' in Yr 6.

I should add that the 'kiss chase' mainly involves the boys, outnumbered 4:1 by girls, being chased and running away shouting "Yuuukgeroffme!".

DD (5.8) has just drawn a picture of her with a boy in her class - she went to his birthday party two days ago. So I asked her whether she liked him - and she said - and she said she like another boy in her class too!

"You never quite know when they'll get hit by cupid's dart."

Too right. We were on holiday in Sicily when DD was 20 months. She fell head over heels in love with a waiter in the restaurant (he was about 20 and very good looking) and spent most of the holiday hanging around in the restaurant in her bikini, prancing around...

The nonsense starts around yr 5. The girls take the lead and talk about 'going out' with people. The boys sort of tag along. Then after a brief spell of 'going out' (where no one goes out anywhere with anyone), the boy or girl is dumped. It is quite closely connected to popularlity.

It's all a very pretendy role play.

Yes pointydog this seems familiar cause dd said some other boy broke up with her as she was meant to meet him but I said well how can you break up if there was nothing to break up lol. I just think they're growing up way too fast like their 10 was about our 13. About a month ago I noticed she was asking for her hair to be washed more often whereas before she wouldn't have cared if it hadn't been for a week! This boy is now on holiday and I was getting how many hours does it take on the plane' and what date will it be in two weeks timeandwhat kinda things do you buy boysall seems to be on her mind a lot. I remember another girl in class was talking the boy talk from about P5 and I remember saying to my ddshe seems boy mad'. A few of the other girls in class are doing the same thing - this one likes this one and then has broke up.

Gosh I didn't have my first proper boyfriend until I was 17. I don't think I'll have that long to wait with dd though!

My 4.5 yo dd has a crush on the little boy 2 doors down who is 7.5 . Trouble is, this little boy has a thing for the little girl opposite us who is more his age - dd has the hump about this and therefore her relationship with this little girl is tetchy! I actually caught them the other day lying on top of each other and then caught them playing the 'pants game' where they show each other their pants , Needless to say I have had words with dd, said boy and said boy's mum to say out of order. I know it's all fairly innocuous and innocent at this age but fgs - at 4.5 NO!! Roll on 10 yrs and I'd be ready for it!!! Is it me, or are kids growing up too fast??

@ comments...

My DDs 8 & 6 yrs both have boys that like them and boys they like...they also completely deny they have boyfriends..apparently they are just friends

The conversation goes like this 'Soo..DD1 do you have a boyfriend?..'NOOO!'..'Are there boys you like?' 'Yes'...'So you like them huh?'..'Yes...but i dont Like..like them*

I had a "boyfriend" in year 5. It really was innocent, but very sweet. We got teased in the playground so we didn't really hold hands, except sometimes after school in the park (with my mum and sister around! ) And we did used to kiss but it was very innocent, just kisses on the lips like you would kiss your family. He used to hide us under my coat so nobody would laugh at us (bless!!) I remember he bought me chocolates on my birthday, and at my party he had a fight with my (male, same age) neighbour from 2 doors down, like a proper scuffle on the floor!

I moved schools at the start of year 6 and lost touch with him, and then wasn't interested in boys at all until I was 14 or 15. Spent hours moping at 15-16 about how I'd never get a boyfriend and never been kissed etc, until my mum reminded me about my boyfriend from year 5, who, poor lad, had been forgotten completely in my angst! Actually I felt a bit sorry for him, we ended up going to the same secondary school, and I asked him out in year 11 in desperation ( Sorry, Y5 boyfriend!) and he said that he was going out with someone else, but sounded properly gutted about it. Then he worked in a local garage and when I went past on the bus every day he'd stand and wave at me I see him occasionally and have him on facebook now but we're not really friends or anything.

Anyway I only had my first proper kiss/boyfriend at the grand old age (or so it felt) of 16 and a half. So I don't think an early start is much to worry about