To think we're not forcing DD to ‘like’ football?

[utgiven]

DD is 2 in a couple of weeks. DP plays football and DD likes to watch him. She also likes to kick the ball to him.

Yesterday, me and DD went shopping with my sister, when we passed some footballs, DD started crying and when I asked her if she wanted one, she nodded. My sister then told me that we shouldnt be forcing her into liking football as she's too young, so we shouldn't be encouraging her.

AIBU to think we aren't ‘forcing’ her?

Does 'force' mean something else on your sisters planet?

Your dsis is being silly. Does she have some kind of problem with girls playing football or something?

Your DSis is odd.

Wtf? Is your sister very rigid in gender roles or something?

Your partner is sharing his hobby/interest with your daughter. The fact that it’s an active sport is a bonus for her future participation in sport. But overall it’s lovely.

you're not "forcing" - no.

However, I wonder if you give your DD everything she cries about when she sees it, or only things that you "approve" of?

Yanbu. My sister is the same, I bought my daughter some cars on ramp thing for her birthday because she loves rolling things, and my sister said "Oh, you're raising her gender neutral?" 🙄😂 I explained no, she is a girl. But toys are not gendered, girls can have cars too... I can't stand how early people try to stereotype children. Let them like what they like, follow their interests!

Your sister is an idiot

You sister is being ridiculous and in any case should mind her own business.

Believe me you can't force it. I must be the only football loving mother in the country who's ended up with two sons who hate everything about it I'm not listening if you say that's because they were over exposed as tots

YANBU! Forcing her to like football

I did work in a museum gift shop once and it was a bit sad how many times a parent would discourage their girls from wanting dinosaurs, or their boys from pink cuddly plushies or the craft-style toys. It wasn’t just ‘no, we’re not buying anything today - let’s go’ it was ‘put that back, it’s for girls’ or whatever

She wants a football, get her one. Your sister is being a complete fool.

I don't get where you've forced her tbh.

Your Dsis is being ridiculous! I hope your daughter enjoys football and ends up playing when she is of an age to do so xx

Kids love balls, even if they aren’t sporty.

Your sister is strange.

I have yet to see, a little boy, or a little girl, who doesn't like kicking a ball about. Your sisters views are very odd.

Your sister is the odd one. Ignore her.

What did she mean about not encouraging it? That’s weird!

@MiloAndEddie

What did she mean about not encouraging it? That’s weird!

Perhaps she thinks DD will catch trans if she plays with 'boy's' things?

Blimey it’s just football. You can’t force kids to like anything, eventually if it’s not their thing they’ll lose interest. She enjoys playing with a ball, no biggie!

I mean even if you were encouraging her to like football is that a bad thing?

Being able to roll a ball back to someone/kick a ball with one foot is a physical development goal in the eyfs, so really boys and girls should be playing football!