Is this normal behaviour for a 5 year old boy?

[c.shallow]

Just wondered whether any other parent has experienced similar things?.....

My 5 year old son has always loved playing with girls toys and dressing up since the age of about 4.
All his friends at school are girls, and I found a book that he'd made at school saying 'I love Jay' ( A boy in his class.)

(I havn't told anyone about that), but I'm told that he'll grow out of the other stuff. I'm not so sure.

The funny thing is when he's not at school he's a completley different person, he plays with his male cousins and really loves WWE wrestling.

I'm really not sure what to do or think and I feel like I have no-one to talk to about this.

[ummmm]

I wouldn't worry. My son was the same. He use to peg tea towels to his hair to pretend he had long hair.

What's the worst outcome? That he could be gay? Not a big deal in this day and age.

[c.shallow]

My son puts jumpers on his head to pretend he has long hair. Does your son still do it now? Its nice to know I'm not the only one.!

[ummmm]

Sometimes but rarely now and only in front of us. He does have a camp side but that's getting less and less. He's 11 now....still not shown any interest in girls though. My other son had girlfriends and crushes at that age....the 11 year old seems to think it's all grossly disgusting.

[annie0000]

I guess it depends on what you think is normal - I believe most boys and girls go through a stage of playing at being the opposite sex and this can last over a period of years, but the majority grow up to be heterosexual.

Sometimes when this behaviour continues especially after puberty then the individual does go on to be either homosexual or have gender identity issues. But this would be more rare. Having said that, this behaviour can be noticed by other children. My son came home from school when he was about 5 and told me that a boy in his class "really" liked playing with the girls and their dolls - he said that most of the boys did like playing with girls but that the way that this boy played was strange. He still gets on fine with this boy (they are now 8) but he still says that he is a bit strange.

I have found one of my sons trying on my shoes and the other messing about with my underwear......but that's a different story!

Personally, I would leave him in peace, but if it persists or starts to effect him otherwise (e.g.getting bullied) then you may want to get some advice. At the end of the day his happiness and the acceptance of him for who he is are probably the most important things. But the chances are that it is just a phase.

Do you have any other kids?

[c.shallow]

Yes I have a 18 month year old daughter

[annie0000]

I just wonderedd if he was perhaps copying an older sister - a friend (male) of my older son used to have a thing about getting his nails painted when he was about that age - he had an older sister so wanted to be just like her. Maybe it's just a compliment to you - I think all boys go through a stage of wanting to be like mum. I think I recall one of mine saying he wanted to be like me when he grew up and getting a bit upset when I told him that he would be a man not a lady - but that obviously didn't persist as I am struggling to even remember which one it was. Then again, my husband stayed at home with my two when they were little, so i was more of a novelty!

I am sure that he will be fine.

[c.shallow]

Yes annie0000 he did actually tell his techer that he'd like to be like his mummy and when he was a baby until the age of about 3 my bestfriend lived with us who is very girly indeed.

Thank you, its a real comfort to hear everyones comments and advice.