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What do you think about letting boys play with girl toys like dolls, play kitchens, etc and letting girls play with boy toys trucks, cars, sports stuff, etc?”

Asked by Tonya Ramsey on 2nd November 2007

Comments so Far...

Hey I'd love it if my BIG boy (hubby) played with 'girl things' like the kitchen, washing machine, vacuum. I have a boy who is ALL BOY - loves anything with a motor - but he loves to cook, occassionally, and has a doll and things playing with barbies is fun when we visit friends. It's a TOY - period.
PS. a lifelong friend of mine and gay man LOVES cars . . .so it really doesn't matter if that is what anyone is concerned about

Flag as inappropriate by Pammy on 31st January 2008
I used to run a daycare, and in that environment boys and girls play with whatever sparks their curiosity that day. In order for the children to play co-operatively, they learned that they would have to play all sorts of imaginative activities: dress-up, cars/trucks, kitchen & restaurant, etc.
It was never an issue for a boy to dig into the dress-up bin and pull out a cape (albeit pink), tutu and hard hat. As far as I was concerned, that toddler was learning the challenging task of dressing himself. If that same boy picked up a baby doll and set it into a stoller or cradle, he was learning how to care for a child as a big brother (or a future father).
Girls learned the parts of cars, how they move when the tires spin, the concept of scale (Mommy's car is big, this toy car is small), etc.
I found it was only the Dads that had a problem with their sons playing with "girl' toys.

Flag as inappropriate by Tara M on 3rd November 2007
yup i am up for whatever. as long as kids are playing and having fun who cares? my mother apparently used to LOVE playing with 'boy toys' like cars and guns (60+ years ago!) and she is great! I also think its fine if eventually boys say 'ew' to pink and girls say 'ew' to monster trucks. if the parent isnt up tight about the play, the kids wont be either!

Flag as inappropriate by Kate on 2nd November 2007
I think there is nothing wrong with that at all. I'm actually reminded of what one of my college professors used to tell us. She said that allowing boys to play with dolls may actually help them visualize what it is like to be a loving and caring father. I say let them do what they want.

Flag as inappropriate by mamajama on 2nd November 2007
Both of my boys had 'babies' although it horrified my husband (lol). My younger one has a hand me down plastic kitchen thing in shades of pink and lavender..and it's the envy of his friends. They play these elaborate restaurant games with it. And right in front of the kitchen is a castle playset with knights and horses and weapons, and there are matchbox cars in the sink of the kitchen waiting to be washed. Any unscripted play with any kind of toy or prop is A-OK in my book. It's us grown ups that have the issues.

Flag as inappropriate by OliveMartini on 2nd November 2007
Logan loves to play cook and play with dolls, although some in my family are SO against it, I think that it is important to let them express themselves and play how they want to. By, forcing the boy and girl labels I think that it keeps the sterotypes and gender roles going, instead of really being true to the fact that girls and boys are totally equal and can go after whatever they want to in life.

Flag as inappropriate by Tonya Ramsey on 2nd November 2007