To challenge this note from nursery ?

[Blankiefan]

Leaflet came home with 4yo DD from nursery (it's the school nursery). Note is about benefits of outside play and learning. So far, so good... until...

"Boys, in particular, require a means of testing themselves (and true abilities) in a physical manner, which is impossible in the confined space of a school classroom."

AIBU to think this reflects some sort of belief that the boys should be challenged in ways the girls aren't? It's a philosophy I'm uncomfortable with - why should they make a distinction on gender?

She's only been attending this nursery for a fortnight - she goes for afternoon sessions spending the rest of her time at the private nursery she's been at since she was 6 months old. Am I going to be that parent if I complain this soon into her school career? The nursery is part of the school she'll attend for primary.

[BellaNoche]

Oh dear OP. A bit perturbed reading that note for all the reasons already given. I would have to say something.... but recognise your concerns.

Why can't they write about the benefits of outside play and leave out the sentence specifically about "boys"? Or change it to "children"?

Acceptable to everyone then surely?

When i worked in a nursery. There was a spefic training day based on boys needs, a big part of the day was physical needs

Dogs get trained. People who work in education need educating so that they develop skills, and understanding.

[DeleteOrDecay]

What a load of bollocks, I would be fuming if my dd had a leaflet like that sent from school.

I would consider emailing or phoning the head teacher, leaflet with this type of literature might be being sent out throughout the school.

[AtSea1979]

There's so much bullshit on this thread it's unbelievable. Are people that thick that they don't think even at two children are conditioned by their gender?

[SmileEachDay]

If I had a class of 4 year olds I'd be chasing every single one of them round a field and up trees until they were extremely tired.

Otherwise I think I'd go mad from all the wriggling and poking and questions.

Fortunately my classes are older but I do threaten them with yoga from time to time

[Waffles80]

Got a peer-reviewed reference for that Copper?

[eurochick]

I'd be furious if I received this. It's lazy stereotyping at its worst. It needs challenging.

[broadbeany]

Before hormones girls and boys are the same.
yes, but this is the age at which the first massive hormone surges kick in.(in boys)

These are both wrong. There's no "before hormones" for children, because it's the much higher exposure of males to testosterone in the womb which causes many of the obvious differences between male and female children.

But these differences in testosterone level decline after the child is borne, and are basically non-existent from about 1 year old until puberty.

I doubt this offers much useful advice about whether to complain to the nursery or not, but neither view can be supported by talking about children's current testosterone levels.

[inchyrablue]

YANBU. What utter bollocks!

[HiJenny35]

Wow some of the responses on here! Really!!! Boys do not need different things to girls! Girls are stereotype from a very young age not to be constantly running and climbing where as in boys it's encouraged. Absolute load of old crap and yes I would pull the nursery up on it. I'm a teacher of 16 years, 14 year in special education, degree in education and masters in additional need and never once have I seen ANYTHING to make me believe that it is anything other than nurture that makes our boys became climbers "just being boys!" And our girls "don't climb that you might fall!" Boys "go on run, burn off your energy' girls "stop running around, your being silly, sit down now, you'll be sick" etc etc etc!

[Sandsunsea]

The land of the perpetually offended. Ffs

[devilmaycarry]

It would be nice if there were some endocrinologists around here who could comment on these, as I'm completely unqualified...

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21438685
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17074984

[ILoveScrabble]

YANBU. It's a stupid thing to write. All children need lots and lots of exercise. The quiet book'y ones need it just as much as the rambunctious boisterous ones.

I think exercise especially outdoor exercise is incredibly important for DC. If I were in charge of schools I'd have an hour of exercise every day for all children.

[BellaNoche]

The land of the perpetually offended. Ffs
Offended at people being offended.
No offence.

[cuckooplusone]

I would have serious concerns about this setting based upon this note, for all the obvious reasons. I would have to go in and ask them about it to see how they reacted to my concerns. I suppose it could be one member of staff gone a bit rogue, but if not then I would seriously consider withdrawing my child.

[ReanimatedSGB]

I'd kick up, too. Politely at first, of course.
I was 'that mum' when DS was at primary - they once sent home the most appallingly sexist reading book and I went in and complained the next day. I got an apology and a promise to remove it from the school.

[Waffles80]

In 1988 my dad went into my primary school to complain that our reading books were sexist and that they didn't reflect the diversity of my classmates and I.

They got rid of the outdated books and replaced them.

If parents don't hold nurseries and schools to account, and challenge the perpetuation of limiting stereotypes then said limiting stereotypes will continue to limit young people.

[SmileEachDay]

This is a good article: suggests that that boy infants are slightly more active than girls and that this small difference is then magnified massively (and damagingly)
[[
www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/summer11/vol68/num10/The-Myth-of-Pink-and-Blue-Brains.aspx ]]

And this is the study the article refers to :

[[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/(SICI)1522-7219(199903)8:1%3C1::AID-ICD186%3E3.0.CO;2-O/abstract ]]

[PokemonDont]

I'm not sure anyone's "offended", more concerned that that this nursery seems to be run by idiots who don't understand child development and the importance of exercise for all young children

[Mustang27]

Wtaf?!! I have a son, he loves being outdoors I have always prided myself in the fact that he gets that from me!!! You know someone with a vagina. I'm furious that they think there should be any difference in genders whatsoever.

[ILoveScrabble]

The land of the perpetually offended. Ffs

Thinking something is stupid isn't the same as 'being offended'

[Ohmyfuck]

What nonsense. I would be annoyed too.

[devilmaycarry]

@SmileEachDay That was really interesting (the Lise Eliot article). I think the title is a little misleading, because she's not saying that "blue and pink brains" are a myth, she's saying that they're different but only a bit. But I guess someone else chose the title. The constructive suggestions are very good.

There's certainly nothing there to say that boys benefit more from outdoor exercise, only that they might be more likely to enjoy it...

[Apileofballyhoo]

YANBU. It's utter crap.

[Atenco]

I'm glad I live abroad TBH as everyone seems to be constantly offended in the UK...what the hell is going on there?

I live in Mexico, and people here wouldn't accept that from a school or nursery.

[hazeyjane]

It's not about being offended it is about early year practitioners not peddling the lie that is...'boys do x and girls do y'.