To be surprised that DD was the only girl at toddler football

[Hardknocks]

Just took DD to little kickers and she was the only girl of 15 kids.. and I was the only mum. DD is only 2 but loves football, and loved the class, but I was a little surprised.

Plus the dads took it so seriously you’d have thought it was premier league rather than toddler football 😂 I’ll go back but I did feel a bit intimidated, stupidly. DH works weekends hence why I was flying solo.

Maybe there is a class in the week that has more girls (with mums)?

Doesn't surprise me sadly, a lot of parents are still very caught up in very stereotypical activities for their small children. So they wouldn't consider football for a girl, whereas dads particularly are often keen for their boys to play football (and equally not bothered at their girls).

Yes perhaps there is, but we both work full time so unfortunately I’m restricted to weekends. I’m definitely going to keep going, I want to show her that she can do anything she wants to, and it was lovely watching her get stuck in. Even if I feel a little awkward. I will definitely wear shorts rather than a dress next week though, I didn’t realise how much adult participation there was 😂

The girls that go with mums might be more likely to go during the week and it’s all dad because it’s a Sunday morning.

You're surprised that a sport traditionally dominated by males, didn't have any girls there?

Perhaps there'll be some next time you go 🤷‍♂️

Yes, @OhBumBags I genuinely thought that it would be a little more mixed. Maybe surprised is the wrong word but maybe more disappointed.

I think it's free choice isn't it? I'd prefer to watch a dance class so take my dd there, dh would rather watch footie so takes ds there. Lots of kids, especially girls, seem to conform to gender "norms" at young ages. Dd would rather prance about in a tulle skirt than kick a ball, so I let her

Our Little Kickers class has more girls than boys. Also held on Sunday morning. Some children there with mothers, some with fathers.

Yes, maybe it’s just my area and will change as she gets older.

Keep going. Little boys need to see it out in the world. A mum taking her little girl to football. We had the same when DH took our little boy to ballet at 3yrs old. Our kids’ primary school has a girls only football team and not a boys so I think that’s pretty cool and our son, having grown up seeing it forever, doesn’t think it’s weird.

DT’s (b/g) both went to dance and football- I hate the stereotypical norms. It’s similar to the boys in blue and girls in pink mentality.

My DC’s football has lots of girls, some are very good and have been scouted. Just keep going!

Parents taking it so seriously like their kids are playing for England 🙄 is unfortunately very common and very tedious. Just ignore it.

We had the same when DH took our little boy to ballet at 3yrs old.

There's a dad that takes their son to the ballet group DD does, he's insufferable and acts like it's the most amazing ground breaking thing in the world; funny enough the teacher is a man and there are several other boys too but the fuss he makes of himself honestly is unbearable. Not saying your DH does this at all, but I'm genuinely always surprised when others are actually bothered, none of us care but we are forced to hear about how unusual and amazing it is every single week.

OP as has been said there could be more of a mix other days, or perhaps there aren't loads of girls that want to do it. DD tried it and hated it, but now she's a bit older she enjoys rugby.

Very likely will change as she gets older. In our area, the FA Wildcats sessions are always full and there are quite a few girls teams that play in leagues. It is true you don't see as many girls in the toddler sessions though.
It's definitely not unusual for girls to play football, or for them to be encouraged to do so by their dads as well as their mums.

I'm also writing this as I watch my DD play basketball, she is far from the only girl in the session 😊

Weekends is just often the only time dad's get with their children. Toddlers swim class is all dad's on a Saturday too.

My DDs did little kickers when they were small (teens now). It was about 50:50 boys girls.

It's just a random chance in the slot you have.

Dd has been going to little kickers since before she was 2yo. It's true that there are more boys than girls, but there's usually been a few other girls not just her.

She goes on a Saturday so it's usually Dads, why not. It's the main guaranteed break I get