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.

If one of the aims or preschool is for boys and girls to be starting reception on an equal footing then they need to be encouraging both sexes in both fine and gross motor skills and not allowing one group to completely avoid one type because 'boys need to test themselves physically'. Actually it wouldn't be far more beneficial to be intentional about involving boys in mark-making, cutting, small world etc and involving girls in construction and physical play.

The prenatal testosterone exposure doesn't make an ounce of difference to their physical activity needs at 3 years old.

Yes, quite.

It does however mean that the people who keep saying there are no hormones involved until puberty or that there are no innate differences (and no possible mechanism for those differences) between boys and girls other than the dangly bits are wrong.

Besides which, if they do believe that girls tend to be less inclined towards physical activity than boys, then they should be encouraging the girls in that direction more, not less.

The hormones don't come into play (i.e. make actual differences between boys and girls noticeable) until puberty, not that they don't exist until then.

No it's not right but yes - if you do complain if might well mean that you and your family are seen as difficult.That's not right either.

Lots of poor behaviour/attitudes from nurseries and schools goes unchallenged because parents don't want to create trouble for their children.

There is no evidence which stands up to analysis suggesting boys are biologically more in need of exercise than girls at this age. There is decades of work showing that long before this age boys have been trained to be physical and demanding and girls have been trained to be more passive and biddable.

Its sexist claptrap but looking back some of the most overt sexism my children (of both sexes) experienced was in the early years groups. I used to put it down to bad training and ignorance but if people are being actively taught this rubbish in 2017 then I find that profoundly depressing.

The nursery knows what all parents of boys knows, that they are like dogs and need exercise every day. The note is a bit sexist, but they are different whether you like it or not.

Oh good another fucking gender equality thread. Aibu to think there was once a time people had better things to think about?

Ffs

Its sexist claptrap but looking back some of the most overt sexism my children (of both sexes) experienced was in the early years groups. I used to put it down to bad training and ignorance but if people are being actively taught this rubbish in 2017 then I find that profoundly depressing.

Being a nursery nurse earning close as damn it to minimum wage doesn't exactly attract the most intellectual candidates with critical thinking skills though does it?

@Craigie my god are you too stupid to read the thread, or just too lazy?

There is no difference in the physical needs of a 3 year old boy or girl.

*Oh good another fucking gender equality thread. Aibu to think there was once a time people had better things to think about?

Ffs*
You know, it's not compulsory to read them if they irritate you...

Yeah, there was a time when people didn't think about gender equality. That went really well for women.

Haven't read full thread but yanbu, I'd be pissed off too and would challenge the wording of the note. All children need exercise and nobody needs this low level sexism. I'm happy to agree that some boys need de-beanzing more than some girls, but the genital equipment provided by God makes no difference until puberty starts kicking in.

Oh good another fucking gender equality thread. Aibu to think there was once a time people had better things to think about?

@Cubtrouble yes if only women knew their place and just shut up whinging on about silly old equality eh? Fucking hell some posters depress me.

@Craigie all children need exercise every day, not just boys.

@Cubtrouble you are aware that people can think about more than one thing at a time? Plus this kind of lazy stereotyping damages both boys and girls, so worth thinking about and challenging imo.

Ask the nursery about it...maybe there's some scientific evidence to back up their statement..! If not , then tell them not to be so sexist. There is always a someone else that complains more than you so don't worry about the one! Go for it.

The nursery knows what all parents of boys knows, that they are like dogs and need exercise every day. The note is a bit sexist, but they are different whether you like it or not.

So girls don't need exercise every day? What a stupid thing to say.

I love it when a poster rolls into a thread to tell others to suck it up when in fact they are the ones in the wrong.

Oh good another fucking gender equality thread. Aibu to think there was once a time people had better things to think about?

Yeah fuck gender equality. Who cares about equal rights for all, right?

Yep ridiculous note from the nursery

Some children are active and some are not

Those who are not active need to be encouraged to find something active they enjoy doing

YANBU. I would be annoyed.

It's amazing what antiquitated bolllocks some people still believe, isn't it?

YANBU. I think you should challenge this as it's not doing any of the kids any favours. The girls need physical challenges and maybe the boys would benefit from a less gendered approach.

Perhaps suggest they look at the BBC 2 programme - No More Boys And Girls. You might want to watch it yourself. It's still on iPlayer for a week or so and is completely eye opening - the 'small' signals dcs get from an early age have huge repercussions on their confidence and outcomes.

Yes it's against the current wave of gender neutrality which has enormous benefits for women's rights and you should make your feelings clear.
However, in my experience after 20+ years of teaching and 4 children of my own - there are huge gender differences in the way children use outside space and boys are far more physical and use more area than girls who tend to cluster.
I do not believe that this is taught behaviour.
Whilst girls must be taught to value themselves and expect others to value them as much as boys, they are different and I do understand what the nursery are saying - and like it or not there is truth in it - although in this day and climate I wouldn't send that letter home.

38 why don't you believe it is learned?

Why don't women compete along side men in the olympics? Why don't women compete with men at football matches? I really could mention every sport here but I won't..... physically we are different our pysical needs are different.

38 maybe you mean some boys are more physical than some girls because I can't believe in your 20 years experience you have never come across a boy who isn't far less physical than you would expect or a girl who is far more physical. I have 4 children as well, 3 boys and 2 are very sporty one really isn't, at all, ever. He takes after he dad who was far less physical as a child than I was, I was often found up trees, generally in the local park for at least 2 hours after school and very active generally.

Curious how so many of the 'boys and girls are different' brigade are using the phrase "like it or not". Why is that, I wonder? Could it be that they need the authoritatan emphaticness to compensate for their lack of non-anecdotal evidence?