toys

[sarahhawdon]

do you think it is a good idea to give children toys which are stereotypically for their gender?

[ganesh]

I was of the generation that suspected that if you brought up girls and boys exactly the same then they would grow up non-sexist , even,well-rounded, sensible adults etc. but having a boy and a girl made me realise that this was all idealistic nonsense.
They naturally gravitate towards different toys,even different colours and even though my daughter was not particularly girlie, she now at 15 loves jewellry,pink clothing ,and shopping. My son is a typical 'boy' and loves playstation games, guns,and cars and hates buying clothes and having a bath!!(though thankfully dislikes football) -I did my best.I still don't see anything wrong with buying a girl a scalextric or giving a boy a cuddly toy, but you'll soon find out what they prefer.
I don't think we can change the gender differences and we shouldn't want to.Get them what you think they'd like,not what you or anybody else thinks is right.

[B00]

I think ganesh is correct, mine's only 22 months old but always gravitates towards the dolls and prams at mother & toddler group despite having a selection of cars, trucks, trains etc both there and at home.

[B00]

oh sorry.....she's a girl btw.....lol

[noxlumos]

Yeah as the father of a small army of kids, the other two are absoloutely right ( although my eight year old daughter is very into guns to shoot her dolls with). Kids usually do naturally gravitate towards what would typically be called gender related toys. Not to say limit toys to that but there's certainly no harm in it.

[bookermel]

Isn't it just so true, even in a house where Dad works in an office and shares equally in all housework. Mum is a chippy with all round property maintenance skills and works both on the tools and as an adult trainer for women in non conventional trades, both my kids did the girl boy toy/colour thing. Although my son has always been proud that mum hangs the doors in our house! It has done them no harm that they played with stereotypical toys they realise that as adults you can choose the roles you take on!

[meltoadhall]

i have 3 girls and we have an equal amount of garage and cars and barbies and prams. they play with them all in fits and spurts. I never thought specifically girl or boy things tho.
my eldest,11, loves pink and "girlie" things but the middle 9 yr old loves footie and outside grubby games, the youngest at 5 wears blue hates pink and loves her garage. they all went through the same stage, eventually thye will decide what they want to be and do, dont think anything i do will change it much.

[naz_nomad]

Boys - Guns, Girls - Dolls ... end of.


You want them to grow up gay?

[Kelmscott]

Well, what are sex aligned toys. Action Man dolls for boys for instance? Would playing with such male macho figures encourage "gayness".

The evidence of factors in upbringing affecting sexuality is uncertain, so dont worry.
If they do turn out to be gay, I am sure you will help them cope.

[Kelmscott]

And how about

Boys-guns-armed robbers !

[bubblegum-31]

lol i have a four kids all under ten years old and whenever my eldest son was about 3 he loved playing with this toy shopping trolley he took it everywhere with him. if a toy no matter wot it is keeps your child amused and they have fun with it who cares wot toy it is. my son wouldve played with anything and hes now nine and a footie fanatic and a proper boys boy, kids will grow up and decide for themselves anyway so just let them b happy and play with wotever toy they choose