This was a question that I have seen on one of my social media platforms.
My middle son used to enjoy playing with a neighbours children, We often went there for a coffee. I noticed that he particularly liked playing with the dolls.
So for his 3rd birthday I bought him a doll. I admit that I purchased the doll that looked most like a boy; wearing blue clothes with short hair.
He also had a doll’s buggy as a present and spent a lot of time pushing his ‘baby’ in it.
Dad’s push their children in prams and buggies, so what’s the problem?
When I was working as a registered child minder, I looked after boys and girls so had a good selection of toys ( some were made to be aimed at girls, some boys and some were gender neutral).
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I noticed that the boys who didn’t have sisters would often be tempted by the dolls, toy kitchen and other toys that they didn’t have access to at home.
Similar were the girls who didn’t have brothers; they were enticed by the vehicles and garage.
On a training day I learnt of a child minder who when a child’s father came to collect his son and witnessed him playing with a toy kitchen told the minder. ” I don’t want my son to play with girl’s toys again!”
To which the child minder told him, “All of the toys that I supply are available to children of either sex, if you don’t agree with that, perhaps you should look elsewhere for your childcare.”
The boy stayed at the setting and the subject was never brought up again.
My thoughts were doesn’t the father know of any male chefs?
I cared for a little boy who every morning would head straight for my dressing-up box and put on my pink tutu.
My husband remarked on this one evening after the children had gone home.
I told him that the boy did this because he wanted to take procession of the dress before my next child arrived, who happened to be a girl who loved the ‘girly’ bits I supplied in this box. Not that I had any issues with either child wearing the item, you understand.
Please share your thoughts and experiences of this contreversal topic.
As always questions and comments are welcome.
Until next time.
Karen
x
Linked with
My 4.boys played with everything, and when we visited their friends with sisters, everyone ran with the pack!
That’s lovely to hear, Michele, thanks for telling me
It’s demented people still think this way. They’re toys. I played with Barbies and matchbox cars. I loved them both. I think the sooner we stop being so uptight about this stuff, the better. #Dreamteam
Totally agree with you ,Lydia, thanks for leaving your thoughts and experience
I think it’s great to encourage children to play with the toys they enjoy. Whether that be a dolly, dress up, or toy kitchen, it really doesn’t matter. It’s all learning and development. I used to love playing with toy cars and a garage! Thank you for joining us for the #DreamTeam x
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for having me on your linky, Annette
I’m of the view that toys are toys and don’t need to be gendered. We have a mix of all sorts of toys in our house and our children play with the ones they like. #DreamTeam
I agree with you,Louise, thanks for your comments
Agree that toys are toys, not boys toys or girls toys – and children should play with whichever they like. That was definitely the case for my brother and I growing up. Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
That’s great, thamks for sharing, Stephanie
It’s so sad when adults force their prejudiced opinions onto children. Let kids be kids and play with whatever toys are interesting to them (as long as they are safe). There should be no delineation between “girls’ toys” and “boys’ toys.”
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
Absolutely, Carol, thanks for your input
I think toys are just toys. I think there is some degree of boy/girl preference which derives from both nature and nurture, but this doesn’t make the categories exclusive. Thanks for linking up with #DreamTeam
Totally agree, Laura, thanks for your comments and for letting me be a part of your linky