Big gender imbalance in DD's year

[shaniahoo]

DD is starting reception this week. From the settling in sessions I've gathered that in the 2 classes of 30 there are only about 8 girls in each class. I'm feeling a bit silly for worrying but I can't help it - DD has always gravitated towards other girls but is also really picky with friends and I'm worried that if she doesn't gel with the few in her class then she'll have trouble making a friendship group. Has anyone else experienced a big gender imbalance in primary classes before? And hopefully tell me I'm worrying for nothing?

Why don’t you wait and see? From someone who worried and waited for eight years for her dd to have friendship problems - what a waste of time and energy that was.

I've got it with both my kids, loads of boys in DD's year, loads of girls in DS's. Obviously it may be different for your DD OP, but in my experience neither of them have had any problems. They've both got a "best friend" and then a wider circle of other friends. DD is very much a girls girl and doesn't have many friends who are boys but DS seems happy to play with anyone (or at least anyone who will tolerate him wittering on about football). As my Granny would say "Don't borrow worries from tomorrow". Let your DD settle and see what happens, if there's a problem down the line then have a word with her teacher.

In about 3 years time they will be teaching her in RSE that children can chose their gender based on what colours and toys they like, so you might find some boys identifying as girls and that will help with the balance.

On the flip side though some the girls might identify as boys and that would leave less girls for her to be friends with. Or the majority could be non binary which solves the problem for everyone really.

Good luck.

DS1’s year is about two-thirds boys. From what I can tell DS2’s year is going to be a similar split but more girls than boys. I can understand your concern but as PPs have said, don’t worry until there’s something to worry about.

🙄 is there a klaxon going off somewhere when someone posts the 'g' word? So tedious.

Anyway OP, in addition to what the other pp said, you may well find that there is quite a lot of turnover in the first few years that could alter the m/f balance

In about 3 years time they will be teaching her in RSE that children can chose their gender based on what colours and toys they like
@WallaceinAnderland Just an FYI, the standard version of the lesson you’re referring to is the exact opposite. It’s more detailed than this obviously, you can probably find it online if you want, but it goes a bit like this:

1. Stereotypical ‘boy’ toys or lunchboxes and stereotypical ‘girl’ toys or lunchboxes are all muddled up are shown to the class. Students are asked how many ways they can find to group eg colour, material, shape, use, size etc.

2. Inevitably some children will choose ‘boys and girls’ as a way to group. From this you have a conversation around what makes them put eg Lego in the “boys only” category. Lots of girls pipe up that actually they like Lego.

3. You don’t then say “oh Alice you like Lego so you can choose to be a boy” you say “so should toys be gendered or should we all be allowed to choose which toys to play with based on our likes and interests?” “I like the blue toy, I am a girl, is it fair if I’m not allowed to play with it just because it’s blue?” Etc etc.

With older children you can also bring in the ‘pink tax’ on unnecessarily gendered items here which they love getting angry about.