Dads at the playground

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you wake up from a coma sustained in 1983?

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am father of a 3 yr old and and my wife is expecting again. It just occured to me that I am seeing a lot more fathers at the playground and other kids events. I took my kid to a random park and it was mostly fathers for example. Not a bad thing really. I thought fathers traditionally are not as involved as mothers were. Are times changing? Or is this area specific? Or is this a fluke and there is some selection bias involved? What are your experiences?

No, it wasn't a fluke. Times are definitely changing.

[Anonymous]

The easier task (go to playground) is delegated to dad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am father of a 3 yr old and and my wife is expecting again. It just occured to me that I am seeing a lot more fathers at the playground and other kids events. I took my kid to a random park and it was mostly fathers for example. Not a bad thing really. I thought fathers traditionally are not as involved as mothers were. Are times changing? Or is this area specific? Or is this a fluke and there is some selection bias involved? What are your experiences?

Depends on location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The easier task (go to playground) is delegated to dad.

+1, dads take the kids to the playground so that moms can do the 400 other things they have to do. Also in families with babies, I often see dads at the playground with the older kids while mom is home taking care of the baby. Dads usually feel more comfortable with older kids -- no diapers or bottles, and you can talk to them instead of just having to figure out what the need.

[Anonymous]

Whenever I see the title of this thread, I sing it to myself to the tune of Gold on the Ceiling by the Black Keys.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The easier task (go to playground) is delegated to dad.

This.

[Anonymous]

We used to regularly have posts on this site from women declaring it creepy to see dads at the playground or creepy if a parent tried to set up a playdate with a dad.

I hate that sexism. I was treated horribly by a mom at my kid's school because I asked the dad, who I saw regularly at the playground and our kids played together, about having a playdate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We used to regularly have posts on this site from women declaring it creepy to see dads at the playground or creepy if a parent tried to set up a playdate with a dad.

I hate that sexism. I was treated horribly by a mom at my kid's school because I asked the dad, who I saw regularly at the playground and our kids played together, about having a playdate.

That's so horrible. Well, if I knew you I wouldn't have done that... My kid's closest friend had a stay at home dad, so we all hung out a lot.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on reproducing at 85 years old. Welcome to normal modern parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My experience is that it varies a lot by family and time. Eg in my neighborhood Sunday afternoons I’m often the only mom at the playground. Not sure if it’s a formal meet up or just coincidence but there’s a crowd of dads out with their toddlers. I love to see it! I also know a couple families where they use fair play to break down responsibilities and the dads are in charge or exercise/activities so I almost always see them at the playground and almost never the moms. And then I know couples (usually with onlies) who prefer to travel as a unit so I always see dad and mom at the playground.

I think it’s really nice to see a diversity of caregivers at the playground as it means people can choose the options that work for them and not feel like they’re excluded or standing out too much. I also see nannies, grandparents, non-straight couples, extended families travelling as a crowd, etc.

Also neighborhood. When I lived on the UES of NYC, it was truly only nannies and moms. I barely ever saw dads at my local neighborhood playground. Moved to the UWS... dads galore. So many dads at the baby gymnastics class too. Kinda funny looking back on it.

Yep, in the Bay Area you see a lot of dads at the parks, too.

Even in high income families where dad is the primary or sole earner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see dads at the playground regularly at 5:00-6:00pm when I'm there. It's refreshing indeed!

+1 my DH takes the kids after work every day to give me a break and start dinner.

[Anonymous]

The dads are at the playground in the evening because moms are wither cooking dinner or cleaning up post-dinner

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you wake up from a coma sustained in 1983?

Truly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am father of a 3 yr old and and my wife is expecting again. It just occured to me that I am seeing a lot more fathers at the playground and other kids events. I took my kid to a random park and it was mostly fathers for example. Not a bad thing really. I thought fathers traditionally are not as involved as mothers were. Are times changing? Or is this area specific? Or is this a fluke and there is some selection bias involved? What are your experiences?

I think you had some outdated presumptions. There is nothing new about this — actively involved fathers have been a thing for several generations.