Im not a teenagers mum yet but I have got 3 boys.

With my eldest (8) i have always been very frank with, he knows how babies are made, what sex is and about condoms-I figured I'd rather he knew good solid facts from me rather than playground myths. In any case this approach suits him.

regarding 13 years olds having mixed sleepovers.
I did this and there was drinking and probably a bit of the other going on to, I participated a little but never slept with anyone.
Surley it is par for the course, some kids at 13 will start shagging and others wont. thing is its normal isnt it for kids of that age to want to "explore" and tbh i'd rather it was in a safe environment with friends around and adults too. If you bring your children up to understand the facts then they know what they are getting into, and just because they are having a sleepover with the opposite sex doesn't mean they will have sex.
Of course not having teenagers I could just be talking out of me arse!

Come into this thread late but I don't agree that 13 is too young to be getting up to anything. There is 13 and there is 13 and a minority will be having sex and this age.

This situation is arising with us. The teens are camping together, up in the hills, mixed group and totally unsupervised. Some were allowed last year when they were 14. Even at 15 I think it's too young. DD hasn't asked to go so far. There is definitley drinking going on, seen the facebook pics and I suspect sh--ing too.

16 would be ok. We all have to wait to grow up to be allowed to do stuff, best not to encourage what could be risky behaviour. IMHO

Yes.
DD is 13 and has slept over in friends houses and in tents with both girl and boy friends.

I trust her. I know she is sensible. Right now they are all too 'young' to get up to much. I may haave to rethink in a year or so.

As I think the above answers illustrate. Teenagers do 'stuff' and cannot be trusted.

Me and DW both went to single sex schools and I don't think missing out on mixed sleepovers damaged us. Anyway, we are kill joys and DSs will thank us for it in the end.

lazymum I always looked at my mum in disgust if she tried to talk about sex or boyfriends to me! (still do ) - didnt mean I wasnt doing it! just offended and disgusted that she was trying to talk to me about it

I was allowed to go camp out (in people's gardens) with my whole co-ed class at times - not convinced about safety in numbers At that age, privacy was optional when "doing stuff"

I agree with that completely.

I've got 2 sons of 17 and 14 (no daughters) and what i've noticed is a very different attitude to mixed sleep overs than when I was their age. They all seem to sleep in large groups in 1 or 2 rooms and there seems to be safety in numbers. Beds appear to be shared by mixed groups which doesn't mean the same as it did all those donkey years ago. They are even quite offended when I suggest its not quite appropriate.

I wouldn't allow just 2 of them at 13 but large nos. are probably safe.

at 13, the answer's got to be no. Have ttenagers of my own and think this might well be seen as setting a very scary precedent.

custy !
Don't be a killjoy these sorts of things are a pita at the time but wonderful memories!When you look back the lack of sleep is forgotten We have had endless sleepovers and parties and it has always been great fun!

nah - it'll be inaapropriate petting.

sleep - overs is a misnoma anyway- you won't get any sleep its a fucking nightmare - give em £20 and send em off to pizza hut - save yourself