Breaking the Toddler Glass Ceiling

My motto is a busy toddler is a happy toddler, and let's face it, in the winter this can be challenging. I'm always looking for fun activities for Penelope, preferably free or low-cost. A couple weeks ago I heard about storytime at Bob's Choo Choo Store in St. Paul. 2 miles from our house and free so a perfect activity. This morning Chris stayed home to tidy up, and I bundled Penelope up and told her we were going to go see Thomas the train.

In case you don't know, Thomas the Train is on PBS and follows little trains around the make-believe island of Sodor. When I was in 8th grade I babysat two boys who worshipped Thomas. I've always found the movies pretty boring, but Penelope fell in love with Thomas the train books at daycare. It never ever crossed my mind that trains are only for boys. I will say there is a double standard in my mind. For instance, tea with Eloise at the plaza...that would definitely be all girls, but a Bob the Builder get together or Thomas the Train event I would automatically take Penelope. Maybe I'd think twice before a transformer event, but not trains.

Yet when we got to Bob's Choo Choo Store, listened to story time and started playing with all the trains, I realized Penelope was the only girl. At one point I counted roughly 45 boys around the many train tables so we are talking a huge gap. Plus, we stayed for 2 1/2 hours so there were many little boys coming and going all morning. Another girl showed up briefly when her parents' dropped her brother off for a little boy's birthday party, but other than that Penelope was the only girl. Since the kids were all under 5, I don't think either Penelope or the boys really noticed, but the parents did. Most parents only intervened between the boys when a fight was about to start; however, if Penelope reached for a train or walked to a new train table, it was "Let the little girl play there" or "Give the little girl your train to add to the one she has." Manners and sharing seemed to be much more important when it was a girl vs another boy.

Penelope watching the trains. This was near the end of our trip. She had been so excited for 2+ hours she finally had to take a seat.

Penelope carefully putting her train on the track. At one point the room was almost library quiet, while Penelope and a dozen boys concentrated on their trains.
A look at some of the train tables.

It was really interesting to see. Little did I know I was going to be observing a sociology experiment at Bob's Choo Choo Store. Penelope showed so much enthusiasm for the trains we will definitely be back, hopefully with some of her toddler girlfriends to share the excitement of trains!