DD8 emailing 11 year old boy telling him she loves him

[eastereggblunt]

Am quite shocked this evening as have discovered about 20 emails between DD8 and one of her brothers friends (11 years old) flirting and saying they love each other - all via the school email system.

Crikey this feels VERY young. I feel quite alarmed that she's been doing this secretly over the Easter holidays - she's 8 FFS

We also have returned from a recent holiday with several other families and I noticed that she seemed to pay a lot of attention to one of the other fathers - always trying to get his attention, calling him silly names and being funny around him. I don't think anyone else clocked it - but I did.

She has a very good relationship with her own father (DH) so is certainly not starved of father figure love and affection. Am I overthinking this all or is something weird going on?? Any advice on how to approach this? I was thinking of maybe speaking to the school safeguarding lead but not sure if that's a bit heavy handed at this stage?

Actually i don’t think it’s OTT that you’re shocked and worried. That is incredibly young to be showing such an interest in the opposite sex and “dating” or flirting ideas. I’ve got two girls and two boys and can categorically say that’s not been normal in my experience.
I’d ask the school safeguarding contact for advice and perhaps see what they’re noting at school re girls and boys as i know some schools do seem bad for young ones “pairing up” and saying GF BF etc even without it meaning anything. Thankfully our school had no such nonsense going on and it was positively discouraged.