I have been blessed with two boys (3 and 1). I love being the Mom of boys and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way, really. I feel that my older son is a good little boy. We are pretty strict and consistent with him (no spankings, almost no yelling, use time-outs, positive reinforcement and redirection) and he is pretty well behaved. I've had compliments on him from his doctor, daycare teachers and complete strangers. At the same time, he's three and he's a handful. We are constantly after him and keeping an eye on what he's doing. Some days are great and others are just exhausting. Overall, I do think that what we're doing is working and I'm confident in our parenting choices. I say that only to clarify my post.
That being said, I had the opportunity to spend a day at the zoo with an old friend of mine and her 3 y/o daughter. Our kids are the same age - within a couple of days. So, we're at the zoo and her little girl was just an angel. She was so well-behaved and sat still in her wagon, for the train ride, for the dolphin show, etc. Meanwhile, I'm trying desparately to keep my son still. He wanted to go here, then there, then somewhere else. He just didn't sit still. He wanted the dolphin show SO badly, but about 5 minutes in, he was "All done" and wanted to leave. He even used the "go potty" excuse to get out of the seats.
I know he's always on the go, he doesn't "walk" anywhere, ever. He always runs or hops or jumps everywhere he goes. Don't get me wrong, he listens (as much as any other three year old). He doesn't have tantrums or fits and he's really a great little boy...he just is SO active. I just thought all kids were like this, but after being with my friend and her daughter I was kind of taken off guard.
I was telling my mom and co-workers how I felt and both immediately said - "He's a boy". Is that the case? I understand that all kids are different with unique personalities and such. But, in your experience...are boys much more active than girls?
Thanks for your thoughts.
I think it is a kid thing!!! I have 2 girls. The first one would sit for hours but not my second daughter. She was always on the go. She still is at 16!! I used to make her run up and down our hallway when she got home from school because she had so much energy. When she was younger she would do her homework standing up and constantly would be moving her legs. She still can't stand still. I would just love to have her energy!!!
I never really bought into that whole "boys and girls are just different" theory, but I have one of each and they definetly fall into this catagory. They are 17 months apart and my daughter is always ten yards back and my son is always 10 yards ahead. It makes life a little difficult, you might have it easier since they will BOTH be 10 yards ahead and easier to keep track of!
It's funny you should mention the zoo because I was just at the zoo in Grand Rapids with my family over the weekend and another family was talking about the difference between little boys and little girls. I have a girl. I think boys in general are less "still" in the preschool years, but eventually having to sit all day in school sort of evens things out. ;-)
I think it might be. I have often wondered about this as well when I am walking through the store struggling to keep my 4 yo boy in line, then I see a Mom with like 3 or 4 girls, and they are all walking together, not climbing on the shelves or grabbing stuff...etc etc.
I think it is "a boy thing". I have a girl but have friends with boys and with one boy and one girl. All of those with both genders see a big difference in the energy, excitability, and amount of time their able to be "entertained". Boys definately are different than girls. I'm afraid that may be where all of the ADHD and medicating kids has come from. It seems to be disproportionately boys who are medicated, from a nonscientific standpoint.
