Social lives of 12 and 13-year-olds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I discourage my middle schooler from socializing too much. She'd socialize all the time if I let her. I don't let her do sleepovers because she gets too tired, and I don't let her hang out with friends after school. She has a lot of homework, and I prefer she hang out with our family for the moment. She has the rest of her life to socialize.

OP, you child sounds fine. I would not worry. Every child is different. I think it's best for a middle-schooler to spend more time with family, and less with friends. We only have a few more years to influence them, so why not take advantage of it? In a few years they won't want to be seen in public with you. Cherish the time your child wants to spend at home.

This is the line I don't understand. Of course, I wouldn't let my kid do a sleepover on a school night. But, Saturday night? This seems harsh. I loved sleepovers with my girlfriends at this age and was always ready for school on Monday morning.

[Anonymous]

I discourage my middle schooler from socializing too much. She'd socialize all the time if I let her. I don't let her do sleepovers because she gets too tired, and I don't let her hang out with friends after school. She has a lot of homework, and I prefer she hang out with our family for the moment. She has the rest of her life to socialize.

It is developmentally appropriate for a middle schooler to want to socialize more with friends than hanging out with her family all the time. You're not doing your daughter any favors restricting her this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I discourage my middle schooler from socializing too much. She'd socialize all the time if I let her. I don't let her do sleepovers because she gets too tired, and I don't let her hang out with friends after school. She has a lot of homework, and I prefer she hang out with our family for the moment. She has the rest of her life to socialize.

OP, you child sounds fine. I would not worry. Every child is different. I think it's best for a middle-schooler to spend more time with family, and less with friends. We only have a few more years to influence them, so why not take advantage of it? In a few years they won't want to be seen in public with you. Cherish the time your child wants to spend at home.

Ignorant statement on too many levels to mention.

Hilarious.