Opinions Please..

[boona]

My sister lets her 5yr old play with the 9yr old child next door. They usually play in the garden or in each others house. The boy next door has adhd (which he is on medication for) he sometimes wonders away on his own and is later found at the park. Recently his mum found him with a knife to his neck saying he wanted to die. His mum is very worried about him. When he plays with my nephew he fills his head with stories which in my opinion are not really healthy, for instance talks about monsters and dying. This causes my nephew to worry, (he has been saying recently that he doesnt want to die etc) I have told my sister that she shouldnt let them play together and my nephew should play with children of his own age. She thinks I am over reacting and being silly. Just wondered if I am or not?

[emmie]

this doesn't sound very healthy, i am not sure i would want my five year with someone of that age, perhaps different if it was a sibling, but it's not.
And any child that would hold a knife to their own throat, needs careful supervision. But as its not your child there is little you can do i'm afraid.

[Mosaic]

No, I think you are correct to worry. trust your instincts. BUT it's your sister's decision, and only she can make the choice.

[Prudie]

This is a tricky one. Firstly I have no experience of ADHD but the 9 year old's behaviour seems like he has problems that are separate from my perception of ADHD. The trouble is at 5 your nephew could be influenced by things that may have long lasting effects (developing irrational fears for example). Is he showing signs of being unwilling to play with the other boy? I don't think I'd want my child involved but as you say, it could be nothing but boys having normal growing up conversations.

[boona]

My nephew absolutely loves the boy next door, he waits at the window waiting for him to come home so he can play with him. Im just worried that this boy is filling my nephew with unhealthy stories (he sometimes makes my nephew cry with the monster stories) and if he decided to go astray he might encourage my nephew to go with him.