Our 8 year old daughter and my best friends son (7 years old) were told a week or so ago in a conversation with them that we felt they were too young to be boyfriend/girlfriend when they asked us if they could be. Today, when I looked in on the kids, the girl (8) and boy (7) were sitting on the couch UNDER A BLANKET holding hands. What do we do or say that they will understand and accept? We do not want them to rebel like this and do it anyway. Why are our children SO YOUNG interested in this?? How do we slow it down and NOT let it get worse?

Anayden

Why dont you sit and talk with them about what they think boyfriend/girlfriend means? See what they know first before you shun their idea cause when they at school they could be together......and you would never even know. Try it, tell them NO kissing, they cant be in the same room together without a grownup....stuff like that. If you tell your kids No you know they are going to do it anyway. THEY ARE KIDS, that's what they do. Tell them they can try it for a couple weeks or something. Sometimes the parents need to give in to the child. Like if they have a talent you would want to encourage them in it, not hender them. Try it and you might find that it isnt so bad. just set STRICT RULES!

lacuran8626

I think a major consideration is whether either child is generally trying to act more grown up than appropriate, and how the parents behave. Find out from your child what they think it means to be boyfriend and girlfriend and if it was a game, or if they really want to think they have that relationship.

Because it's very likely that this type of exploratory play is really uncomfortable for one of the children (one is probably pushing it, the othe going along wiht it), don't let them play off by themselves.

Also consider how the other parents are raising their child. Are they overtly sexual around their kids? Does the other mom act overly sexual or suggestive? Does the dad objectify women?