10 year old boy - what is your son really like?

[Flowalyptus]

I’m the Mum of a sensitive 10 year old boy who seems really different to his peer group. He seems well liked by his class mates but hasn’t really made strong friendships at primary school. His peer group are into stuff that seems so advanced for 10 and I don’t know if it is just his school or if this is all 10 year olds now?! I just want to know what other mums think who have similar aged sons.

My son still enjoys imaginative play. He will make up games with his younger brother and use their soft toys to recreate scenes from films and TV programmes. He has favourite soft toys that he will take to bed. He loves board games, lego, and Gravitrax and he also enjoys playing his switch, usually Zelda or Mario. The boys at school prefer Fortnite (my son hates anything violent), watch YouTube and they also talk about sex a lot and throw around words like “69” though I’m not convinced they know what it is. My son has absolutely no idea about any of that yet and has no interest, he just shrugs it off when they bring it up.

I still feel like 10 is so little and maybe some years ago my son’s interests would have been more typical. Am I just out of touch with what it’s like to be 10 these days?

My ds is 10 and home schooled. Does have an iPad and watches YouTube, usually the fact Channel?! Lots of facts as I listen to him repeat them verbatim all day. He plays with Lego daily. He likes Marvel. He doesn't play video games as we don't have a console and he hasn't asked for one yet. He spends alot of time outside making dens etc and playing with the dog. I worry he us probably too immature due to lack of peer influence. And then I also feel relieved he doesn't have that influence.

He sounds lovely. I think my son does have the influence but he doesn’t seem affected by it yet. I’m torn between worrying he’s being left behind and worrying that if he gets swept along he will be moving way too fast.

He sounds lovely. I think my son does have the influence but he doesn’t seem affected by it yet. I’m torn between worrying he’s being left behind and worrying that if he gets swept along he will be moving way too fast.

My son is 10 and is quiet and kind. Firmly into Minecraft and Star Wars and zero interest in Fortnite or football. He’s obsessed with nature and books and knows an immense amount about animals. He likes to sit and play stardew valley with me and we do wordle together everyday. He has an older sister but isn’t interested in acting older than he is.

Edited to add that he also plays a lot of creative Lego games and has toys on his bed. He likes board games too.

I have a 10yr old boy, I also have a 14yr old boy.

10yr old doesn't play with toys really anymore, not into football but loves basketball. He has been out all day today (summer hols here) with a friend building a den in the woods and came home covered in muck. He likes Minecraft but not Fortnite (although I do allow him to play).
He's very picky about what he wears, it's needs to be Nike or Jordan and dark colours. He likes his hair styled a certain way. He love cuddles and soft toys. But also really loves a reality police show. So in some ways he's growing up and in others he's very much a little boy.

My 14yr old was much more 'mature' at 10 than my youngest, they're all different and develop at different rates. But then my 14yr old had a very tricky stage at 12/13 so I think he hit puberty early.

My 10yo ds is the youngest.. Older than his years with 3 older db's..

My nearly 10 DS is into -

Cuddles
football
cricket
pokemon cards
strongly loyal friendships
Big emotions
big sense of justice about racism/colonisation/women’s rights
board games
maths
coding
Stuffed animals
Team sports
cuddles
reading
did I say 🥰 cuddles?

I meant to add ten is a tricky age, there's such a wide range, some are very much on the cusp of puberty while others are a few years off. You might notice the ones with older siblings and cousins seem a bit 'older' too.

How much independence does he have? For example, my 10yr walks to and from school himself, goes swimming and cinema with friends (we drop and collect) and can go to the local park with friends. We built this up gradually so he can understand boundaries and assess risk, within safe parameters.

In my experience they sort into two groups at this age - the more boisterous 'older' verging on teen types and the quieter geeky ones. Sometimes you get boys who can fit into both groups. Girls are similar. They can usually find more of their tribe at secondary school or through extra curricular activities.

My ten year old loves his teddies (there are lots) and cuddles...and likes gaming but is very clear about what's "too old" for him...Fortnite and anything violent or sexual. He is very caring especially about animals and very protective of his friends...puberty feels a way off yet, but he's maturing physically. He's very sensitive and I dread the day he's too cool to tell me he loves me, we hold hands whenever he wants to as well. Your boy sounds just fine OP, I think the best thing we can do as mums is to let them be exactly who they are, for as long as possible.

Mine is into football and Fortnite, but still very much a little boy, into a wide range of things. Including acting out musicals with his 12yo sister.

All kids are different and it's a shame to pigeon-hole them (Geeky and imaginative vs football and Fortnite) kids can be lots of things. I find most of his friends are similar, but definitely still young kids at heart.

It is worth bearing in mind that a lot of the parents of your son’s classmates might believe they are still into toys and games and nothing violent. Children can be very different with one another than at home.

Oh your little boy sounds like the type of child I wished my son would meet! He’s into all the same stuff and loves doing the Wordle. He’s also into animals. Currently we are watching All the Sharks on Netflix which he loves. He despises football!

I’m really glad I started this thread. Your boys all sound lovely and it makes me think maybe my son isn’t that unusual at all ❤️

Mine is into football and very sporty, plays consuls, watches YouTube, loves nature and the outdoors. Draws beautifully has a very full imagination. He’s an amazing friend - teachers comment on him being the one to deescalate things when they get out of hand, calms his friend with AudHD when he’s overwhelmed and is everyone’s confident. He is a good cook - looks up recipes on chat GPT like Thai curry and jerk chicken. He has a massive sense of social justice - we just watched the Netflix documentary on Grenfell. Switches off swearing and wouldn’t touch Fortnite and agrees social media is too old for him even though some of his friends are on it. Holds my hand in public and tells me he loves me everyday.

He is utterly divine. Funny, kind, super smart and wonderful company. I am very smug about being his mother!

My 9 (nearly 10 yo) boy is......

1. Football crazy
2. Very particular about what he wears and how his hair looks
3. Has an Xbox had a bit of a phase with Fortnite but he just doesn't seem at all interested in "gaming"
4. loves the outdoors, he's a really active boy always has been. So if he's not on the football pitch training he's practising in the garden or off with his friends on his bike and loves a long bike ride with dad every Sunday.
5. Youtube....now this I really hate tbh but I know all his mates are on it but unfortunately he does pick up things I'd rather he didn't on Youtube!
6. unfortunately the emotions and attitude have started kicking in which is a difficult time to navigate with him but he is clearly growing up.
7. Aside from all of this he absolutely adores his cuddles & kisses still and still wants me to took him in to bed at night.
8. absolute maths whizz
9. Loves Karate kid and cobra kai
10. Enjoys history
11. a very loyal friend doesn't jump from friendship groups
12. Can be abit silly at times still and loves to fight his little brother 😏
13. Music he loves his music
14. Very "ahead" both academically & mentally from most of his peers
15. Caring

If I'm honest I'm finding this stage with him quite challenging, he is growing up and wants freedom/independence & responsibility but then he is still also very much a young boy who wants his mummy snuggles and lots of affection but all on his terms HAHA!

Your little one sounds a lot like my baby boy 😍

to be honest whether boy or girl of any ages its hard to say one size fits all. there are a lot of outside factors like siblings; if they are used to playing with younger kids they will still have an interest in younger games whereas with older siblings their interests may be quite old for the age. of course this can also mean in amongst the older ages, they may still cling to things like soft toys.
also when they start high school there may be peer pressure to conform to some of their interests

to be honest whether boy or girl of any ages its hard to say one size fits all. there are a lot of outside factors like siblings; if they are used to playing with younger kids they will still have an interest in younger games whereas with older siblings their interests may be quite old for the age. of course this can also mean in amongst the older ages, they may still cling to things like soft toys.
also when they start high school there may be peer pressure to conform to some of their interests

Mine is hard work! He’s ADHD and the back chat/eye rolling is sky high. He’s a delight in school…at least.

He’s in both groups - geeky and quieter and boisterous, depending on his mood and company. He doesn’t like football but enjoys riding his bike, swimming, Lego, reading. He would love to play Fortnite like 90% of the boys in his class but he’s not allowed, I’ve let him have Roblox on his iPad though which he loves. I would prefer he stuck his Switch.

He still sleeps with his babyhood teddies and I don’t see that changing any time soon. He’s a great friend, very loyal. He can be extremely kind when he wants to be and I cling on to this when he is acting like a teen.

My son is almost 10 and loves his friends group, cricket, Minecraft, Fortnite, being outdoors, piano, lots of mummy cuddles, his stuffed animals and baking together.