To think girls shouldn’t wear sandals in the park?

[Canyoucreateoneplease]

It’s been a beautiful day here so I was at the park. DS was on the climbing which is huge, designed for older kids, not toddlers.

There were so many girls crying and panicking getting across it because their sandals were getting trapped. Their feet were sliding out of them because of their angles, and their dresses were hindering them.

AIBU to think girls who are going to park should be put in sensible trainers and trousers? The boys were managing with ease because they were suitably dressed. A substantial amount of the girls were struggling because of what they were wearing.

Saw many a wee girl sitting primly on the roundabout after learning their feet would get hurt if they chucked themselves about like kids with trainers and wellies on.

I used to wear sandals all summer and clamber everywhere. What you're showing as a "run of the mill" sandal looks nothing like what I would think of as a normal sandal, but I do think that those formal shoes you've shown are probably somewhat impractical.

On the side of skirts though, as an adult I love in dresses and skirts and I successfully ride a bike and climb over gates etc without issue.

https://www.startriteshoes.com/products/lottie-blue-girls-buckle-sandals

I am quite sure that NoVibrato was thinking of something like this. My children wore them from about April to October depending on growth. Traditional sandals. I had them too.

Clearly the world has changed since my DD was playing in parks as I’ve never encountered lots of crying girls with their flimsy sandals caught helplessly in climbing frames upside down with their dresses flapping somewhat flag like in the breeze.
Not sure I’m buying into this AIBU

My son used to wear sandals at the park in summer. They were sturdy ones for playing. Same type my daughters had. It’s not the sex of the wearer that’s the issue, it’s the type of sandal.

I used to live abroad in Asia and kids there had no problem scrambling up climbing frames in cheap and inappropriate flip flops!

Mine always went up barefoot but I was in full admiration of how kids can adapt.

There were so many girls crying and panicking getting across it because their sandals were getting trapped.

I actually work in a park and I can honestly say it's so unusual that so many girls were crying and panicking due to this??

It's not particularly the best choice of footwear but even so.

My under 10s wear what I lay out for them.

Interesting, because I think dressing girls in clothes which allow for maximum enjoyment whilst playing is the more feminist choice, whilst insisting on strappy sandals and dresses despite how inappropriate they are for the activity, just to ensure the girls look stereotypically feminine at all times, is deeply regressive.

Let them wear sandals and dresses to parties.

I mean it’s probably easier to clamber around the place in pole dancing type hot pants than any other item of clothing.

But, my daughter doesn’t seem to be hampered by climbing over everything in a full circle skirt and there is no way Im going to battle the choice of clothing when there’s no material impact. Strangulation risk is a straight no, so cords off hoodies etc.

Shoes wise - i point out croc style shoes aren’t good for climbing. If she wants them anyway, fine.

Yep - teach them early to sit nicely.

I think there's a difference between velcro monster sports sandals, which are appropriate, and dainty slidey ones. But yes, children (and everyone) should be appropriately dressed for whatever they're doing.

Do you not feel bad for the girls forced to wear the “pretty” sandals that look good and are hard to climb in rather than functional footwear? Every child should wear appropriate footwear to the playground as a safety feature. OP is merely pointing out that it seems to affect more girls than boys, which I can well believe.

People aren’t defensive because of that. I think it’s because you’ve deemed it inappropriate clothing, therefore it must be so, think you know better than other parents, and see fit to police other people’s choices.

You don’t like the sandals or dresses? Fine, don’t put them on your daughter. Other people will - for whatever reason. Whether you approve or not is completely irrelevant.

My younger ones (girl or boy) get to choose from trainers or their keen sandals (closed back, secure straps, solid treaded bottom, toes covered) for park trips and similar. Youngest DD has soft shorts and/or leggings that coordinate with each of her dresses and she's accustomed to those being a package deal, or she has plenty of shorts and capri-length trousers to choose from.

But I don't ever really notice what other children are wearing unless they're in my charge and I need to be responsible for their safety. And sometimes letting a child experience impractical choices in a low-stakes way is the best learning approach.

I see. I’d call those more school shoes than sandals, though see they’re called sandals in the description. Obviously feet wouldnt fall out of those as I mentioned in the OP.

Girls have every right to embrace dresses and skirts.

I notice so many Mums these days making a massive point about them, trying to stop their daughters wearing them and enjoying them. If they do happen to wear one and I comment on what a lovely dress, they are quick to reply ‘oh that was a present from
such and such’ in an embarrassed/disapproving way. I don’t get it, I find it utterly bizarre.

Some schools trying to ban them is outrageous. Not everyone wants to wear boring trousers, feminine fashion is so much more varied and interesting! Extremely comfortable around the midriff too for many womanly issues.

My DD refuses to wear anything but dresses, and like me we are both into our dresses but also super sporty. They don’t stop us doing anything. I think people use this as an excuse to have a pop at girls enjoying their dresses, which I find very odd.

I've never witnessed this in about 13 years of park action
I'm wondering whether it was the dexterous skills of the girls rather than their apparel ?

My two have attended parks wearing full blown princess dresses ,sandals ,Welly boots ,shorts,leggings ,dresses always been fine ?

Not in a million years would my dd have been allowed those for any occasion. They are not width fitted and have insufficient support for growing feet. I do agree with you that they are common girls sandals, but you said it and absolutely no offence meant to those whose children wear pretty things for special occasions. Just biting you back personally.

Well you’ve just made up an entirely different OP in your head.

Sometimes we go to the park after we've been somewhere else. We don't always plan our outfits for every eventuality. And on a hot day it's fine to wear sandals and a dress.
I do agree though, that trainers are more practical and ideally t shirt and shorts.
I have a girl who refuses to wear anything but dresses and crocs at the moment (at least not without a massive fight with a very strong 4 year old) and often when I've let her wear them to the park or nursery, she has way more scratches and bruises from tripping over or whatever because her dress gets caught or she trips over the bloody crocs! You'd think they'd learn, but nope.

Yeah, my kid is the same. She loves climbing and is very strong and confident, but also quite sensible. I do make her wear sensible stuff if we're going to the park but she's the kind of kid who'll be straight up the nearest tree in the two seconds your back's turned walking home from school or a party.

A pair of flat sandals shouldn't be much of an issue, really - they're hardly trying to scramble up Ben Nevis in Manolos. Imo the footwear is less of an issue (with some exceptions) than the subtle unspoken messages most girls get about how they're supposed to behave and how much more risk averse they are encouraged to be than boys are.

Right. Well, it happened in my local park today so there we are.

I agree OP, my dc only ever wore open sandals at the beach or for a party/wedding. They would always wear closed toe sports style sandals or trainers in the park. My DSD however would often arrive at our house wearing dress up shoes (Disney princess type) to go to the park or for a long walk.

It’s a shame for the girls though.

They didn’t appear to be enjoying being stuck up a climbing frame with their feet falling out of their shoes having to cry for their mothers to come and help them down because they literally couldn’t get a grip.

There are plenty of other opportunities to wear dresses and sandals.