What's "in" for 6th-8th graders this year?
August 7, 2013 9:33 AM Subscribe
I'm a single dad and my son will be entering the sixth grade in Ohio this year. What's cool for kids his age (11-12) through and up to 8th grade (13-14)? Looking for suggestions, anecdotes, first-hand experience on fads, trends, clothes, talk, etc.
All the boys I know in that age group ate into their iPod touches/iPhones and the various game apps.
posted by dpx.mfx at 9:49 AM on August 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by dpx.mfx at 9:49 AM on August 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Minecraft. All the Minecraft.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:00 AM on August 7, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 10:00 AM on August 7, 2013 [7 favorites]
What does your son say?
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 10:33 AM on August 7, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by These Birds of a Feather at 10:33 AM on August 7, 2013 [4 favorites]
It depends very much on the socio-economic standing of the school he'll be in and the other circles he'll be rotating within during the school year.
Do you know the demographic beyond age?
posted by batmonkey at 10:50 AM on August 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
Do you know the demographic beyond age?
posted by batmonkey at 10:50 AM on August 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
My brother is 13. His favorite things seem to be Minecraft, Green Day, Osiris brand sneakers, zombies and Doctor Who.
I think slang is really regionally dependent. He does tend to talk in memes, he says "cool story bro" a lot.
posted by inertia at 11:57 AM on August 7, 2013
I think slang is really regionally dependent. He does tend to talk in memes, he says "cool story bro" a lot.
posted by inertia at 11:57 AM on August 7, 2013
I tend to doubt my son and his friends are part of a trend but minecraft is still huge but they also recently have gotten into Team Fortress 2, WOW, and Starcraft 2. Note these are all F2P or have F2P starter editions so it just may be due to that.
posted by jclarkin at 2:00 PM on August 7, 2013
posted by jclarkin at 2:00 PM on August 7, 2013
My 10-year-old son is going into 5th grade and loves Minecraft. He also loves zombies, outdoor survival, and ninjas. He told me two days ago that "Nobody says 'Cool beans' Dad. It sounds like something from the 80's." I showed him a clip from "Hot Rod" where Andy Samberg says Cool Beans a lot, and it was from 2007, but he looked at me like I was stupid.
My 12-year-old daughter is going into 7th grade and loves Minecraft too. She wears two layers of clothing at all times - even to sleep - and is self conscious about her body. She also loves Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. Her group of friends doesn't seem to talk about boys much yet. Oh, and I bought her a "Duck Dynasty" t-shirt and she loves it.
posted by tacodave at 3:09 PM on August 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
My 12-year-old daughter is going into 7th grade and loves Minecraft too. She wears two layers of clothing at all times - even to sleep - and is self conscious about her body. She also loves Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. Her group of friends doesn't seem to talk about boys much yet. Oh, and I bought her a "Duck Dynasty" t-shirt and she loves it.
posted by tacodave at 3:09 PM on August 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I work with middle schoolers during summer programs, and here are a couple of things my kids were into: One Direction, internet memes, mustaches, Rick Riordan books, manga, Korean TV dramas, "swag."
But yeah, like batmonkey says, demographics make a difference.
Mostly they just want to play games on their phones, text their friends, go on Facebook, look at Vines, share pics on Instagram. Phones, phones, phones.
posted by illenion at 3:12 PM on August 7, 2013
But yeah, like batmonkey says, demographics make a difference.
Mostly they just want to play games on their phones, text their friends, go on Facebook, look at Vines, share pics on Instagram. Phones, phones, phones.
posted by illenion at 3:12 PM on August 7, 2013
My wife is a librarian for grades six to eight. She says socks are big among boys. That is, socks that match the color of the basketball shoes, pulled up high. No idea if that's regional (New Hampshire), and it may be a jock thing. Osiris shoes are popular among non-athletes.
posted by schoolgirl report at 4:12 PM on August 7, 2013
posted by schoolgirl report at 4:12 PM on August 7, 2013
My stepson is 14 and about to enter high school this coming school year. All he could wear was Polo brand clothing, Jordan's (the more retro styled the better), some sort of Nike sock that costs $20 a pair and khaki pants from American Eagle.
posted by Sweetmag at 5:31 PM on August 7, 2013
posted by Sweetmag at 5:31 PM on August 7, 2013
My wife is a librarian for grades six to eight. She says socks are big among boys. That is, socks that match the color of the basketball shoes, pulled up high. No idea if that's regional (New Hampshire), and it may be a jock thing.
OMG, yes. I thought it was a Southwestern Ohio thing! I am sure it's a jock thing, as my 13-year-old daughter assures me that it is.
Yes to Minecraft and phones.
posted by cooker girl at 7:08 PM on August 7, 2013
OMG, yes. I thought it was a Southwestern Ohio thing! I am sure it's a jock thing, as my 13-year-old daughter assures me that it is.
Yes to Minecraft and phones.
posted by cooker girl at 7:08 PM on August 7, 2013
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The boys were all wearing the white or navy blue sweatshirts, the girls, white or light grey (with pink lettering, not navy.)
Fair warning, my 14/16-wearing daughter was too big for a Hollister WOMEN'S size small. So if you buy one online, get a bigger size. If you buy one in person, definitely try them on.
posted by headspace at 9:41 AM on August 7, 2013