[maria4040]

My eldest daughter is just about to turn 7 and I was wondering about when kids these days show interest in the opposite sex. She is a very pretty, popular, well behaved girl, and has a book that she writes in. I had a look today to see how her writing is going, its not a book she hides or keeps away, and she has written things like "i love ***", I want to kiss and marry *** and draws pictures of her and a boy kissing! All very innocent I would imagine, as she has lots of friends both boys and girls in her school and they all do the same thing. But two things have shocked me, the first is that I didn't show any interest like this until I was around 12/13, so is it just that these days kids are more aware of whats going on. And secondly I came across a page where she had written "I saw *** then a slang word for p**is. That really surprised me, I wonder are they playing mums and dads at school or something. I know kids go through this type of thing, but really she is only 6 yrs old. Any thoughts?

[twinzplus3]

I think they just start earlier and that kids know more these days. I agree. . .I wasn't interested in boys until much later. . . But even my dd came home asking questions from someone who had said she had had sex. . .the girl was 6. (Something was going on in her home we later determined.) No brilliant advice for a child who goes to school. . .just comiserating.

[maria4040]

Thanks, my daughter is just so innocent and trusting, and I think the thing that has upset me the most is that I am not ready for her to be so grown up and interested in these things. It scares me that she is growing up so fast and these things will come, its only natural but I don't want her to lose her innocence just yet. She is still my baby.

[twinzplus3]

I sooooo understand.

[kmomteach]

I teach kindergarten and I hear children talk all of the time about boyfriends and girlfriends. I truly sooo dread it when mine starts! I think that you just need to keep in mind that a child's perception of things is very different from an adult's perception. Be sure to talk with your child and always make your child feel that she can talk to you. That way when she hears things that confuse her at school she will come to you.

[Jesoey]

My guys are 8 and 12 and both have been pointing out pretty girls since they were around 6 or 7. I always ask why they are pretty and its usally nice clothes or a nice smile but my 12 yr olld is giving me more of the Gee I dont know mom I just think she is pretty type comments these days.

[BonusMom]

The kids in my six (soon to be seven) year olds 1st grade class are always talking about boyfriends and girlfriends. In fact that is what I was just coming here to post about.

Two nights ago at a party for one of the kids in her class I caught her in the closet with anouther little boy. The kids were saying she was kissing her boyfriend!! I opened the door and she was in there with him but she had a blanket over his head. I think they were just playing. When the kids started teasing her she started crying that he wasnt her boyfriend and to leave her alone. I tried to talk to her, but honestly I didnt know how to handle it.

I talked to her from a "perspective" point of view and told her I believed her [that he wasnt her boyfriend] but if she didnt want people to think that, then she shouldnt spend time with him alone. I talked to his mom and got thier number, then told her that if she wanted to play with him we would play with him anouther day now that we have his number. But today play with EVERYONE and dont go running off with him.

B ut when I watch these kids, I mean this boy walked up and gave her the rest of his tickets for no reason, Just here, would you like to have these. and I got shivers, like this is the near future.

[1stTimeMomOf2]

Yes I agree with Val (twinzplus3). It just happens earlier and earlier now. My mom teaches preschool and I have a nephew in preschool and I constantly hear them talk about boyfriends and girlfriends. I also agree that they percieve things differently than adults do. I talked to my nephew and asked him what boyfriends and girlfriends do, and he said that they love each other. He's really too young to understand love and all the other stuff that comes along with having a girlfriend. I think they just try to imitate what they see adults do, and sometimes they imitate things that are not comfortable for us to see or hear them say. I blame it on how much children are exposed to from tv and other forms of media. My babies are only 2 weeks old so I don't have an issue yet, but when they get older the tv will be turned off and they won't get exposed to all that sex, violence, and such.

[BonusMom]

1st time mom of 2,

We dont watch TV in our house. We have sets, but they are only hooked up for movies. SD gets this stuff from school.

Yesterday she told me she needed to lose weight because she has pudge on her belly. Um, 52 lbs and 6 years old. She is perfect. Not even holding baby fat. She gets it from school.

[sharinielsen]

Quick story - I was in first grade and my friend (a boy) and I wanted to see if our "glow in the dark" crayons actually worked. We went in to the closet together to check them out and got in trouble by the teacher. Our parents were called in and it turned into such a big thing. Neither one of us were doing anything wrong - it wasn't even a consideration! We just wanted to see the crayons light up!!! Sometimes adults make too much out of simple actions.

In other news...my 6 yr old came home from school the other day and announced that she has a new boyfriend. I asked her what that means and she said that they get to sit next to each other on the bus. I asked her if she hung out w/ him in school (they are in the same class) and she said "no...just the bus". So it looks like it isn't too serious yet!