Dads in Playgroups

[daddy_says]

What do you think when men join your playgroups?

[lou]

I think it's great! I love seeing involved father's! though the couple of guys that attended "baby school" felt a little out of place in a room full of women. I think more father's should attend.

[charliesmommy]

I'm not involved in any play groups. BUT, if I were I would think any dad wanting to join is an amazing father!

[daddy_says]

Thanks for your insight Lou & Charlie's Mommy! It's funny. Some dads feel they are being shunned by the mommies groups, or not allowed to join.

[mommywarrior]

I have asked my husband if he has wanted to come along on play dates and he says he would feel out of place. But if there were any all dad play groups he would be there in a heart beat. I totally think it's awesome when dad's take an active role in raising their kids but I understand it might be a little awkward as well. But if they don't care then more power too them!

[freckles]

Its wonderful

[ewoods]

It's surprising to hear so many women say it would be great if a dad wanted to join a playgroup.

Some dads feel they are being shunned by the mommies groups, or not allowed to join.

This has been my experience. I've had two different playgroups tell me I couldn't join because it was for mothers only. Interesting, since I thought playgroups were for kids, not parents. I also had a couple women invite me to join their playgroup, and then later call and cancel because some of the other women in the group said it would make them uncomfortable to have a man there. It took me a while to find a "co-ed" playgroup, but sadly it has since disbanded since some people moved away.

[alissa1979]

good point, ewoods - aren't playgroups for kids? Why should fathers, mothers, grandparents, other caregivers be excluded?

[Newmom!]

We happily have fathers attend our playgroup - they don't come often as most of them work and at the moment we are all SAHM's (but that's about the change for 3 of us in a few weeks).

Anyways, I would assume that some playgroups that are "moms only" are resistant to dads in the group because women often talk about issues such as breastfeeding, periods, and their yucky pregnancy experiences. Some women are not comfortable sharing this information with a dad present.

However, even if they feel this way they shouldn't shun the dads away, they should learn to talk about something else, understand that dads have probably heard it all from their own wife, or call up a mom later if they need to talk. They playgroup should be for both the kids and parents. Play for the kids and adult interaction for the parents, and dads are adults too.

[daddy_says]

I've asked around the playground, and gotten a touch of honest insight. One mom admitted, " It’s awkward sometimes having a man at the playground. I’ve seen other mothers move their children away from my own husband until I walk up. Then they are fine." Another mentioned how it would feel inappropriate for a married mother to invite a man over to her house for a play date when her husband wasn't home.