Does your 5th grade or beyond boy still play with girls? Must the genders separate?

[Anonymous]

My son has a great female friend who is a really good influence on him too. (He can get into trouble). He likes her still, but because she is a girl he feels all playing together outside of school must stop or they will be teased and mocked and people will assume they are boyfriend and girlfriend. On the one hand, I am surprised he even socially tunes into this because he has Aspergers and tends to be clueless. On the other hand I wish he didn't tune into this because she helps him with social skills whereas his male friends and he just reinforce the stuff they aren't supposed to do. We still get him together with his male friends because friendship is important, but must he give up a female friend?

[Anonymous]

DD is in sixth grade. She hangs out with a group of friends from elementary school. The group is 60/40 girls/boys. Of her two closest friends, one is a girl and one is a boy.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not. They can play at each other's homes. Who would know? Or, do you like her family enough that you can invite the girl's entire family over?

[Anonymous]

My 16 year old DD still hangs out primarily with boys. I think it's great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 16 year old DD still hangs out primarily with boys. I think it's great.

That's good to hear.

Signed, mom of 12-year old who still wants to play with the boys like she always has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: My son has a great female friend who is a really good influence on him too. (He can get into trouble). He likes her still, but because she is a girl he feels all playing together outside of school must stop or they will be teased and mocked and people will assume they are boyfriend and girlfriend. On the one hand, I am surprised he even socially tunes into this because he has Aspergers and tends to be clueless. On the other hand I wish he didn't tune into this because she helps him with social skills whereas his male friends and he just reinforce the stuff they aren't supposed to do. We still get him together with his male friends because friendship is important, but must he give up a female friend?

My 6th grade boy socializes with girls. It's fine.

Did something like a book, tv show put this idea into his head? Was he teased at school. Or is he trying to extrapolate social rules from what he thinks is correct?

[Anonymous]

I have 2 5th grade boys. One primarily plays with girls at school (and he does have a 'girlfriend' at school), but both boys play with all of the neighborhood kids (boys and girls) when they are home.

[Anonymous]

My dd just turned 11. She invited 3 boys from her class to our birthday outing at a trampoline park because that's who she hangs out with at recess. She's been close friends with them since kindergarten. She gets along great with the girls in her class, but feels more connected to these boys and shares similar interests.

[Anonymous]

My 15 yo DD's best friend is a boy. She also has lots of girl friends but the boy brings balance and a refreshing perspective.

[Anonymous]

awwwww he has a girlfriend

[Anonymous]

I feel you OP. My 5th grade girl is sneaking her good friend a Christmas gift tomorrow because she doesn't want to be teased by the class. It's easier for teens but 5-6th grades are tough transition periods.

[Anonymous]

We stop using the word "play" and call it hanging out.

[Anonymous]

My 5 the grader has slowly moved away from his girl friends, there is a little to much drama for him. So I think it depends on the girls and what they are going through

[Anonymous]

My daughter has a friend who is a boy and they still played when they were 9, 10, 11, and 12. They have been friends since they are toddlers so not sure if that makes a difference. But we've also spent time recently with friends who have a son her age (12) that she hasn't known as long and they still get along really well also. I think it's personality driven by both sides.

[Anonymous]

My sixth grade son has several good friends who are girls. One is my friend's daughter and they have known each other since they were babies. He has good friends who are boys too. He shows no inclination to stop any if these friendships.