How do you get over the stares?

[FairyLights2]

My little boy is at that age now where he just wants to explore and he's also very vocal! Every baby group we go to... he wants to grab everything and everyone. Of course, I chase after him because I want to also learn how to respect people's space. Sometimes though, I see parents (with much calmer babies - usually with a girl) staring and looking at us with some sort of pity or looking horrified at his extreme energy.

I want my baby to continue attending these lessons and I want to get over the stares (sometimes they're harmless) and just let him explore naturally without judgement.

Are there key things (or phrases) I can remember whenever these stares happen to not take them so personally. I'll add them to my journal and have a look before every session, so I can enjoy the session with him more.

Thank you in advance to anyone who contributes to this discussion.

There is NO difference between boys and girls under 5 with regards to hormones etc that might affect behaviour.

NONE

I also had a similarly active baby and found local playgroups where there is a bit more freedom worked better for us

@FusionChefGeoff

Please don't start the whole 'girls are calmer boys are boisterous' nonsense.

It's damaging to both kids

This.

Also, are they actually staring? I never encountered anything like that at baby or toddler groups and I was the mother with the non stop climbing escaping feral monkey child.

We went to a soft play area and he was around older babies - it was SO MUCH better! He explored happily and was babbling back and forth with other babies who were also as energetic as him. Looks like he just needed an environment more suited for his little personality.

Thanks again to everyone who suggested that to me :)

[quote Bluemamma]@Mimba1 bravo, we’ll said.
Of course there are behavioural differences, just like the fact that boys are usually taller/heavier and girls are quicker to talk/sit/walk. That just the way it is. No one can argue with that, it’s just the fact. And of course you can get exceptions from the general rule.[/quote]
@Bluemamma it's so weird isnt it that there are some people who intentionally want to act ignorant and ignore obvious biological truths about gender differences which people have known for a millenia. It's not saying one gender is better than the other, it's just stating the fact of general trends, where there are of course exceptions (which everyone obviously knows).

This recent western fashionable trend of 'deny the existence of biological gender and the real biological/behavioural differences it has' is just so silly and tiring.

@FairyLights2

We went to a soft play area and he was around older babies - it was SO MUCH better! He explored happily and was babbling back and forth with other babies who were also as energetic as him. Looks like he just needed an environment more suited for his little personality.

Thanks again to everyone who suggested that to me :)

Fantastic! Glad you had a great time!

Mine is a very confident toddler and I know how it feels when yours is more enthusiastic than most! A few kind playgroup leaders made me realise it is actually totally normal for a toddler to be outgoing and curious. It is actually quite nice! Don't worry about what other parents are thinking. They will have their own insecurities. As long as you have boundaries about unkind or dangerous behaviour, let him be himself! As long as he is being safe and playing nicely with others you are fine.

I think there are differences in biology but there is also a large middle overlapping ground - so I just take kids as I find them.

OP - not all playgroups / kids classes are suitable for all children. Look around and hopefully you will find one suitable for yours. Maybe play groups rather than musical/story time type groups if yours is on the go.