boys are like dogs?!!

[waitingforsomething]

Text a mum friend today who had a 2 DS one the same age as my dd (3) to see if they wanted to pop over for a play. She text me back to say she thought she would go to the playground because 'boys are like dogs and need to run'. I said Dd loves and needs a run around too (true) but it was Raining...she then said I didn't understand because Dd is a girl and she doesn't need it and I don't know how hard it is to have boys only. I am so lucky that DD will so quiet stuff sometimes and I will apparently understand when my DS learns to walk....
Aibu to think she's being a bit silly? Are boys really so different to girls? She is right that my DS is still a baby so perhaps I don't know but as far as I can tell all young children need a good airing....for some reason I'm dwelling on this and not sure why ...

[CaptainCrunch]

Oh, I hate guff like this. I had a friend with 2 DS who continually bumped her gums about how "hard" it was and how until you had boys you would "never understand". I wouldn't have minded but she had the dullest two DCs I had ever met, my DD was a real live wire in comparison.

Shitey gender stereotyping at it's worst, spouted by thickos.

[treacledan71]

Some Boys seem to concentrate less and want do tasks for a long time.

[treacledan71]

Sorry won't not want

[waitingforsomething]

This applies to loads of 3 year olds. Not just boys.

[lapsedorienteerer]

In my limited experience, only 1 DS and 1 dog, YABU. Boys are definitely like dogs in that they need the routine of regular exercise

[abbieanders]

The reason why bots are like that is because people indulge it in boys and punish it in girls.

[waitingforsomething]

In my limited experience lapse so do girls!

[dodobookends]

All kids get cabin fever and need to play outside. We used to make sure our dd had a good run about every day to burn off all that pent-up energy.

[shutupandshop]

I have 3 dds and a ds. Yep hes defintley more bouncy and full of beans. I hope hes not like acdog as im not really a dog person.

[BertPuttocks]

I have 2 boys and 2 girls. No difference whatsoever in how much exercise they need(ed).

[MissBattleaxe]

I talk about my boys like this, but not because they are boys. All children need fresh air and exercise, just like dogs do.

I often joke about how I need to take them out and throw a stick for them as they've been cooped in. If I had girls I'd say the same thing.

[abbsismyhero]

all kids are like dogs they eat anything lick/sniff random things run exactly where you don't want and need a lead

also regular exercise is good for them boys/girls/dogs

she almost has a point my dd was quiet and played nicely my boys are wild animals however now dd is a teen she is also a wild animal so she matches in with her brothers nicely

my friends girls give my boys a run for there money

[waitingforsomething]

Interesting experiences. I just cannot biologically see why a little boy needs more exercise and running than a little girl of the same age. Sounds like bullshit and unnecessary gender stereotyping to me but my DS is still young so I may yet eat my words ...

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

I hate all this 'You don't understand because you haven't got a boy' as if it's some kind of get out of jail card. A friend used to pull that one. Well I do have a boy and yes he has a lot more energy than my dd he isn't physically aggressive.
So much like dogs in the need for exercise and discipline but not limited to boys.

[worriedmum100]

I often use this phrase about my DS. He needs to be excercised regularly and fed very often or his general bounciness turns into bouncing off the walls. But I wouldn't comment to a mother of girls that the "don't understand". A lot of his boy friends are similar to him -some are not. Most of his girl friends are quieter than him and his behaviour is noticeably different when he plays with those girls - but some are not. His best girl friend is just as bouncy as him. So there may be a nugget of truth to it but it's always silly to make sweeping generalisations about anything.

[spanky2]

My boys are like this....
I said this the other day...

[TannhauserGate]

More to the point, where is BALD?

[Maudofallhopefulness]

My two boys are lazy bastards. So hard to motivate them to get active.

[CultureSucksDownWords]

abbieanders has it about right I think. Of course not all boys are like this, and many girls will be. Often, activity is rewarded in boys, girls are rewarded for being still and quiet. It's depressing that so many people (some of my friends who I think are fairly intelligent) spout this kind of nonsense without actually thinking about it.

[Jesabel]

They aren't born different, but from that point on they are socialised differently. Right from the start it was assumed your DD would be less physical, play with dollies, like drawing, sit quietly, concentrate. Right from the start it was assumed that her DSs would need to be active, outside, wouldn't sit still, would need to kick balls and play fight and run around.

After 3 years of that you have a little girl who will play nicely inside because it's raining, and little boys who will tear the house apart because they haven't had a good run.

[MrsMook]

DS2 is just like a dog, over excited, pleased to see you, always chasing balls and running around with sticks. Fortunately he's stopped eating random stuff from under the table.

There's plenty of girls that need to burn off energy too, so the "wouldn't understand" comment is unreasonable. However on balance, there probably is a bias towards boys behaving in a more physical way.

[QueefChegwin]

I've always said my 1 year old dd is like a puppy. She follows me all over clinging to my leg, chews anything in sight, bites, growls and causes general havoc. Much different to her older sister that used to sit lovely pretend reading books at that age. They both love running around like big divs outside though.

[PickledLilly]

My DD obviously didn't get the memo about sitting still and playing quietly.

[summerpuddingandclottedcream]

I used to think this was sexist bollocks.

Now I have three boys. I am astonished on a daily basis at how physical and active they are. Obvs all young kids need lots of fresh air and exercise, but I'm pretty sure there are physical reasons why boys need lots.

Your friend was being a bit rude, but I recognise myself in her - esp the bit about taking her kids for a park run before entering someone else's house. She was trying to do you a favour imo, even though this meant standing around in the rain. Which is less fun than sitting having a natter over a hot cup of tea, but a safe precaution. Don't waste time feeling offended.

[Jesabel]

but I'm pretty sure there are physical reasons why boys need lots.
Well, yes, and that's why - you have an idea (from society) about what little boys are like, you've raised your boys (conscious or unconsciously) with that expectation, and unsurprisingly they have lived up to it.