Girls play outside less than boys even at two years old

[WarriorN]

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/oct/18/girls-play-outside-less-than-boys-even-at-two-years-old-uk-survey-reveals?CMP=ShareiOSAppp_Other

I find this really sad.

Could it be linked to internalised parental sexism attitudes?

I do remember going to toddler singing groups with my two and being quite surprised it was mostly girls.

And I also remember one day where most of the girls were very scared of Dinosaurs, which happened to be the theme. (I bloody loved dinosaurs from an early age.)

Eh well here we wear shorts or leggings playing those game's. The only place I see skirts is the nonsense old fashioned "traditional" i.e. treat women like pretty to have as opposed equal athletes.

The child is climbing not standing around hitting a ball. How many climbers do you see in skirts 🤦‍♀️

I always found trousers really uncomfortable and impractical. Your ankles get cold and wet, the waist bands are often too tight, the material is too stiff making it harder to move around (especially jeans). I wear dresses most days, including for physical work and movement, with thick tights in winter and cycling shorts in summer, and find it way more convenient and less restrictive. Only exception would probably be cycling or horse riding.

From as soon as she was old enough to play, and through the early years. I still take her to outdoor places for walks most days but have stopped encouraging her to run around and climb on things, because she just doesn't enjoy it and gets really upset if I suggest she tries. I stopped taking her to play groups where kids run around because she found it completely overwhelming and prefers groups where you just sit in one place and follow someone's direction from the front.

Never can understand this, wear socks for ankles, properly fitted trousers not jeans. Why do people equate trousers with jeans? There's thousands of materials or fit?

I can't understand the sweaty tights which can often lead to skin reactions in my experience. I have yet to see too many people who are physically running around or climbing in skirts .

I do think there is correlation between clothing in children and their activities. I notice all the children in my son's school mixed no uniform typically wear soft trousers are up on the trees, climbing frames etc. the girls from the convent school aren't. It's very obvious why.

This is adorable and very much like my childhood. I grew up on a farm with 4 older brothers and managed perfectly well to keep up with them when I came to climbing trees etc !

Both my DDs loved being outside and getting mucky at that age but it was a priority for me to get them out. They would often be out in their party dresses and wellies.

But I agree that the lack of practical clothing for girls probably contributes to this over time. Esp school shoes.... silly shoes for girls. I always have mine in waterproof boots but it's an effort to find them.

Not wholly the point of this thread but M&S are doing a wide range of coloured joggers this year, all with drawstrings. Next are also doing coloured fleece lined leggings.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/cotton-rich-joggers-2-8-yrs-/p/clp60617897?color=GREEN

I send my toddler to nursery in joggers all winter as why shouldn’t she be cosy? But have previously had to purchase from the “boys” section on the M&S website, which shouldn’t matter at 2, but reinforces the idea that boys get to wear comfy clothes and girls get to shiver in thin leggings all winter.

Thank you, I'm hoping her love of nature will carry on as she gets older. We love to get her out into the countryside, it's a lovely way to live.

This is probably more to do with people wanting coloured joggers for boys and M&S upselling them to girls too