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.

You’re right, it’s far more practical however my girls loved dresses and sandals. I would often hold the dangling dress skirt as they climbed. Their sandals were always those cork bed sturdy ones.

My 5 year old is rarely out of a dress or glittery tutu and can keep up with her old brothers and some! Regularly pairing it with wellies, crocs, sandals, bare feet…

we often go to multiple places a day and end up at the park. So my children are often not ‘park ready’. Also, have you ever tried to ‘dress’ a strong willed 5 year old girl?!

let them be little, let them be a ‘princess’ if that’s what they want. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with little girls in dresses!!

Do you have a daughter?

I bought my DD (4) some really pretty patterned t-shirts with co-ordinating cycle shorts in lovely colours, floral t-shirt even matches her floral Adidas trainers. I actually suggest that these shorts & trainers would be more practical for the park whilst still looking pretty like her dresses. She loves pretty clothes.

My DD is disgusted and is straight in her wardrobe selecting her own Summer dress. She has quality Clark’s t-bar sandals, likes the trainers.

OP genuinely, when you have a strong-willed DD you will take a standard Summer dress for the park as a win over the full on full length Rapunzel dress up dress with crown, heels, wand and handbag. Now even I draw the line at that, much to DD’s annoyance! 😂

It literally is inappropriate footwear for climbing and playing in a playpark ffs, that cannot be news to anyone 😂

As a mum to a small child (and auntie to many!) obviously I have, I’m not quite sure which part of my post this actually relates to though 😅

As the child of a sensible practical mother, who insisted on sensible practical shoes, clothes and hairstyle, I would have traded the ability to climb for the joy of the pretty, sparkly, flouncy stuff and the long swishy hair of other girls, all day long.
I agree practicality is important, but you cant assume 'its a shame' for the girls wearing 'girly' clothes. Many go through a phase of loving these things and would be wearing their sandals and dresses from choice.

If you don’t grasp that strappy sandals hinder girls then maybe you’re one of the parents dressing them this way.

Dresses are far more practical than shorts, they give you more freedom of movement because your legs are unhindered. Certainly dresses and sandals have never hindered my DD climbing to daft and dangerous heights. Sometimes she chooses dresses, sometimes shorts – it’s up to her, there’s no “putting” her in anything.

I’m sure these girls could have kicked off their sandals and climbed barefoot if they’d wanted to, they probably don’t need the fashion police to limit their clothing choices. You think the clothes are limiting them; I think dictating what girls choose to wear limits them. Leave girls alone!

Meh. My DD climbs in flip flops. Sandals would be an upgrade.

if their parents are forcing them to wear unsuitable shoes, that’s poor - but often I find that the child picks the shoes.

Those sandals you’ve pictured @Canyoucreateoneplease arent suitable for walking in, let alone climbing in. It’s not a boy vs girl thing or a sandals vs trainers thing, parents shouldn’t chose shoes like that full stop. Same goes for crocs, I see numerous children in them and they are about the worst shoes you could ever pick for developing feet.

You're being a bit absolutist about this, OP

Perhaps you’re right. My children wear whatever I lay out for them.

As the mother of a daughter I completely agree with the OP. Lots of defensive posts here, completely oblivious to the centuries of history of women’s clothing restricting their movements and participation in life.

The reason girls’ clothing gets commented on and “policed” is because of the various societal ideals placed on female clothing that aren’t placed on male. Impracticality is one. Sexualisation is another. There are gazillions of posts bemoaning that in the shops girls’ shorts are all buttock-skimming for ever-younger girls, and T shirts that don’t properly provide cover in the summer - zero complaints about boys clothing in this way.

Maybe worry about giving your children more freedom and choice than worrying about what other people’s children are wearing.

I never said wearing girly clothes was a shame. There is plenty of opportunity for them to.

It’s a shame their footwear hinders their enjoyment.

Isn't there a place for both? I don't think anyone is saying it can only be one or the other.

Exactly how am I dictating to them? Will they read this thread and feel they have no choice but to follow my opinion?

lots of generic girls shoes are not geared up for activity. It’s part of everyday sexism- people notice it with the different school shoe choices.

however you can get sensible sandals and dress your girls in a way which doesn’t limit them running around from a young age.

Oh my older son still does- he couldn’t give a stuff what he wears, what I buy, who picks. DD has had a mind of her own about clothing since she could walk! Very into clothes, and has quite an eye for them. Detests anything plain. Children are different.

But boys are never in them and girls frequently are.

DD wore what I put out for her. She wasn’t that bothered and frankly when she was little I was a better judge of what was suitable for the day than she was.

Too many parents wanting their girls to look nice - put them in trainers for goodness sake and encourage them to have fun not worry about how they look.

Same goes for school shoes - buy proper foot covering shoes for girls, not the silly ones with cut out pieces where they get wet feet in winter. Boys don't have to suffer this. Get the girls in sturdy shoes so they can have fun and get involved in the playground, not worry about 'pretty' shoes but wet feet. Drives me nuts when I see girls in unsuitable shoes.

They most certainly are sandals. I used to have these in the Summer.
You may not call them sandals, but that’s what they are.

Yep, the impracticality of short shorts for slides is a regular complaint.

It's not even just the defensive comments, it's the point blank refusal to consider making life easier. Your wean likes sparkly stuff, so what? Mine likes sugar and she doesn't get to eat it every day just because she likes it. Some of the posts are pure wilful refusal to consider practical approaches for girls and in the end all it does is reinforced stereotypes, not choice.

Do you have a daughter @Canyoucreateoneplease? You seem to be suggesting dresses are always forced upon them by their parents but lots of little girls love to wear dresses. There’s nothing wrong with a girl wanting to look or feel ‘girly’ and lots of girls have a rainbow sparkle unicorn phase where only a dress will do! I’m fed up of traditionally feminine things being treated as ‘less than’. Why not give them some freedom of choice to wear what they like? Even as an adult I find something freeing about a dress!

Lots of little girls manage absolutely fine in dresses, climbing, running, swinging, twirling, sliding, playing football. I’ve seen all of this at my local park just yesterday.

If a girl was really struggling in a dress at the park then that’s a lesson learned (natural consequences) and she may choose something different to wear next time. But this just simply isn’t the huge issue you’ve made it out to be.