Boy Crazy!!!

I would be asking her why. Why is it so important that she have a boyfriend? What does having a boyfriend mean? What is influencing her? TV? Friends? Does anyone she knows obsess over boyfriends or dating? Are her friends calling her a loser cause she doesn't have a boyfriend?

And then I'd tell her that she's too young to have a boyfriend.

My son last year told me he had a "girlfriend" at school...he was 8. He obviously had a little crush on her and they would ride the bus home together. He said it was a secret from his friends and that they had gotten teased a little. She came over once for a playdate and she was the sweetest kid. Watching them, they were obviously just friends and were having fun playing together. He doesn't talk about it anymore...I guess it's all over with now.

I don't have any advice, but I think this is pretty common. I have a 7 year old boy and he constantly tells me about 3-4 girls that chase him around wanting to be his boyfriend. Most of them are also more tomboys. It seems like most of the time, they really just prefer to play the more adventurous games the boys play (like pirates and superheros) and maybe see the "boyfriend" thing as a way to "get in" with the boys without the girls shunning them. Not sure... just a theory based on my son's "girlfriends."

As the mom of a boy who was in kindergarten last year, PLEASE, PLEASE discuss boundaries with your daughter. I had to talk to the teacher a few times because of the way some of the girls treated him. Possessiveness, trying to kiss him, trying to hold his hand constantly, trying to control who he played with...it was nuts!

I'm a mom with a son, so....

All I can tell you is that you do need to nip this.
There are girls like that in our school and you don't want your daughter to be "that girl."
O. mom encourages her daughters "relationships" and has since first grade. Truly ridiculous.

Maybe focus on boy friends and girl friends. All friends.
I would also wonder where she gets the importance of a boyfriend? Tv? Games?

I don't think it is a big deal. I, too, have boys. I'd let her talk all she wants. You can throw in your sage words of advice without making it a big deal. Like, "Boys are neat. It's good to be their friend. That will help you understand them when you get older. You are a little young for a boyfriend now."

Ask questions? "Why do you want a boyfriend?" Then respond without criticizing..... "That sounds nice, but Dad and I would like you to wait a couple of years. If you learn a little more first we think you will be happier when you do get a boyfriend."

Tell her stories. "When I was your age there was a girl......"

Puberty does start around age 9. Good Luck!

My just turned 8 year old boy is girl crazy. He told me he had a crush on a girl and wanted to ask her to e his girlfriend, but he was too shy, so he decided to just try to impress her instead. I'm not worried, I thought it was cute. I remember having a boyfriend in grade 2. He put a Valentine card in my mailbox and passed me love notes at school. We even danced slow dances in grade three at the community club dances.

Teach her what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior.
If she acts like this in school, people will notice.
She is 7.
So like 2nd grade? Or going to 3rd?

I work at my kids' school. This past year, there was a 2nd grader that took a liking to one of the adult Aides. A young guy. She'd go over to him, bat her eyelashes, and hang on him, playfully. It was like wresting an octopus. The Aide, had to, un-glue her from him. And he TOLD her it is not appropriate and all those proper Professional things as he is school staff, and people noticed. But it was the girl's behavior, that everyone noticed. Because, she was inappropriate and per her age. So of course the parent was told. And she finally, stopped. And she pouted about it. But she stopped.

You NEED to, talk to your daughter.
You are her Mom.
Not her "friend."
Take the lead. You cannot hesitate about things like this just because you want to be a Mom that your daughter will tell things to. You need to teach her, about boundaries and what is appropriate or inappropriate.
Maybe it is just a silly passing phase of her's etc. But still, you need to teach her and guide her on things.

Also for future reference: the 'American Girl' book series is good, and for Tweens. Look it up online, every bookstore has it. It has many topics.

Also she is 7 and is wanting a boyfriend.
What tv shows does she watch? Those geared toward Teens, or her age type shows? Maybe she is getting ideas about it, from the TV shows she watches. Those Teen shows, are often about boyfriend/girlfriend scenarios. And it is not for 7 year olds.

If it's "not for kissing" and she is a bit of a tomboy anyway - maybe she'd actually just like to have a male Best Friend?

Lots of the "tween" shows show boyfriend/girlfriend couples doing things like eating pizza together. Maybe she just wants to hang out with boys more often?

Ask her if she has any particular boy in mind. Then ask her what she thinks she would like to do with him (I'm sure her answer will be very acceptable, since you said she doesn't even want to kiss). Go from there.