I was in the park yesterday, and a mum said this to her toddler...

[PavlovtheCat]

...who was following my toddler daughter around.

'mckenzie, you flirt! You are such a flirt, you fancy her don't ya, yeah I can tell you do, you flirt!'

Calls over to a friend...

'look at mckenzie following that girl around, he so fancies her! Flirt, he is!'

The boy was about 3.

I was a bit [shocked]. She found it highly amusing

[FAQ]

• I frequently joke that my DS's (particularly my younger 2) are "flirting" with the girls

[Dalrymps]

[PeaMcLean]

Poor kid. he'll grow up with issues.

[ChacunaSonGout]

loads of people use that word for kids - rank

[Dropdeadfred]

gross

[FAQ]

however I must say I never say that they "fancy" anyone -just that they're flirting

[Monkeytrousers]

issues? about what? flirting?

[PavlovtheCat]

FAQ - i also have a friend who says this on the odd occasion, and although I find it a bit odd, it has not really had much of an impact, however - this person was making a really big thing of it, like she wanted him to be flirting with my daughter, and actively 'encouraging' what she considered to be 'flirting'.

It did not strike me as a harmless through away comment, but something that she says regularly every time her son encounters a girl.

I found it, well debasing? Is that the right word?

[Majeika]

A mum at school keeps telling my ds (3y) how 'sexy' he looks in his school uniform!

It really winds me up but I am not sure what to say really as we are on the PTA together and I know she is only joking but FGS and ds looks at her not knowing what she is on about!!

I totally know where you are coming from!

[FAQ]

I suppose that's a bit different - I only say it when DS2 and 3 are acting all "coy" (turning head away slightly, fluttering their eye lashes etc at the girls/ladies.......they never do it to the boys/men that coo over them )

[PavlovtheCat]

FAQ - I am sure its a bit different - all this poor kid was doing was running after my DD to play on a seesaw, and the other came running after him.

Majelka - oh I would have to say something to that, it is just wrong, even if meant in humour

[PeaMcLean]

If you can't talk to members of the opposite sex without someone teasing, then yes, not exactly going to inspire self confidence as you grow up.

[PavlovtheCat]

Pea - teasing is fine...but sexual inuendo's to a toddler? I dont think so.