Why are middle class kids always so sporty, outdoorsy & confident?

[Greensleeves6]

Both from state & private schools. Just an observation. But why?

They aren't

Ridiculous generalisation

Sorry, your previous post said they had a poor diet and made it sound like you lived in an area which affected your kids health. Neither of which you'd want your own kids to replicate.

They aren't, well one of mine is one isn't, chance like anyone else and you only notice the more outgoing ones

I'm WC, my kids are MC. I agree it's all about opportunity. I couldn't imagine having the sort of funds my kids have had. DS in particular is very sporty and went to a rugby school. One of his buddies is now playing for his country.

Everything from kit to diet to private lessons, overseas camps and parents who were able to facilitate travelling to games, overseas tours and international matches. All of the things my siblings and I could never have dreamed of..our DC got in abundance.

It's made a massive difference to their confidence.

When considering my own children I don't think their class has anything do with it. I think it is their individual personalities and in the case of my shy child the effects of lockdowns, mask wearing and social distancing at a pivotal developmental age.

My children are middle class:

One is sporty, outdoorsy and super confident.
The other, whilst outdoorsy, is not remotely sporty and is shy, introverted and lacking in confidence.

I'm in awe as ever of the Mumsnet extremes.

It's either tennis and fencing, national rugby teams, micromanaging your kids sporting excellence with your pots of money, or gang violence and not knowing what a cow is.

Erm, really?

They're definitely not like that! I know lots of MC kids with anxiety, social anxiety, always stay inside etc etc

Also lots of WC kids are super outdoorsy and sporty

Nothing to do with class but I was determined from being tiny that my children would be given the opportunity to join in.

I spent my childhood worried about going to anything new, hated the feeling of being the new person who didn't know anyone, do missed out.

I didn't want my DC’s to have any sense of feeling like that, so made going to ‘things’ normal. This included always chatting to others when we played in the park, going to the toddler group, inviting other toddlers here to play, joining Beavers etc.

@Collexifon well it is partially true. Cities are not particularly set up for outdoor living. It's space, more expensive to live here, more crime, more antisocial behaviour. I chose to live here though. My children aren't sporty because I have to work full time and I can't get them to any after school activities as I don't get back until 7pm every evening. It's shit but it's reality. Without 'au pair' money you'll find there are a lot of kids in the same boat, especially ones from single parent families.
This feels like a bit of another stick to bash us with.

Are lighthouses middle class? My kids go to the beach plenty but there isn't a lighthouse. Do I need a posher beach to give my kids MC cultural capital??

This is the crux of it.

The library is part of a culture that is perceived as completely alien by many.

What's middle class ?

But do they all know what a lighthouse is by the age of four?

Why? Many? Some, yes.

I assume we're all too thick and badly raised to bother with our offsprings. We only have them for the benefits you know? We don't actually just love them.

Mine isn't . Plays cricket but prefers reading and academics.
The younger one likes outdoors but isn't very confident as yet

My friend works in a family centre in a deprived area. The local library was long gone so she arranged for the parents and preschool children to go to the library in a more affluent area down the road. None of the parents turned up to any of the sessions. She asked them why and they said that going there wasn't for them. They stayed in their area. Their parents and grandparents were also there. They went out with men from that area and had children with them even though they knew the same man had had children with, and beaten up, the previous partner. Their mothers and grandmother's had the same lives. I taught in the same area and in other poorer areas for 20 years. My final schools were middle class and in affluent areas. The difference was enormous. Health,diet, opportunities, vocabulary, aspiration, expectation of a successful life are world's apart.

Jeez I hated sport, much preferred a book, and would walk between lessons reading. I had chronic self confidence issues due to years of bullying which left me feeling isolated and ashamed of where I came from (apparently being upper middle class and all the opportunities that gave me, made me a target).

Obviously not true of everyone however there will be many who do. I had a child in my first teaching job who was one of 7. Mum loved babies. They were beautifully dressed and transported about in a Silver Cross pram. Once they got beyond the baby stage they were severely neglected . Mum would be pregnant with the next one and the cycle would continue. It was horrific

You need to give one first - many have been closed down in the last 10 years. Not worthy apparently.

@AngelinaFibres amazing how your ONE example leads you to think it’s MANY families who are like this.
Or that your experience as a teacher will tell you all about the WC as a whole.

No bias possible.