https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:44:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toys-and-gender#post-45306 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:33:27 +0000 mrbee 45306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been reading more and more studies that say that girls are way ahead of boys at school. So my concern is actually more for our son and not our daughter!</p> <p>Charlie loves to play with girl toys... not too worried about gender stereotyping. We don't plan on buying many toys anyway... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toys-and-gender#post-45299 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:00:09 +0000 Red 45299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that boys and girls should be exposed to toys from both sexes. In general, I try buy more open play toys like megablocks and stacking cups etc. This past Christmas, LO seemed drawn to her boy cousin's train set so we might get her some tracks and cars later on. When she's old enough for imaginative play then we'll get her some dolls also. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toys-and-gender#post-45292 Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:05:24 +0000 cyndistar3 45292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't believe in separating toys by gender. My little girl has a wide variety of toys from her dolls and kitchen to trucks and dragons. Hopefully we can have a boy and though of course he will have cars and all that fun stuff I will also teach him to play with dolls because I think it is good for little boys to learn to be gentle as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toys-and-gender#post-45189 Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:54:30 +0000 mommacommaphd 45189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I recently had a friend question why I got my 2 year old a kitchen set for Christmas. I'm a scientist and she thought I'd have gotten her something less traditionally girlie.</p> <p>I pointed out that baking is all about chemistry, and following recipes in the kitchen is just like following protocols in the lab.</p> <p>I grew up playing with whatever I wanted. I had a kitchen set and I had Lincoln Logs. I went shopping with my mom and hunting with my dad.</p> <p>I make a conscious effort not to get my daughter only 'girl' toys (she has dolls and cars, she has blocks and a dollhouse). We're expecting our second child, a boy, and I hope that both of them will have ready access to toys traditionally for the opposite gender. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toys-and-gender#post-45059 Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:23:19 +0000 PawPrints 45059@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There is a great article in The Nation from a couple of days ago on the importance of the types of toys that kids grow up playing with, and the impact that that can have on their eventual career choice.</p> <p>"When schools fail to spark children’s interest in science, math, and computing, the result is that populations that have historically been drawn to those fields—the sons of college-educated parents—continue to excel, while girls and low-income kids lag behind. The toys kids play with at home matter, and so do the lessons children learn at school; in order to overcome overwhelming cultural conditioning to the contrary, both parents and educators should actively send the message that all children will have fun and learn a lot when they “tinker” in the physical and electronic worlds."</p> <p>"Beyond Pink vs. Blue" <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/165378/beyond-pink-vs-blue" rel="nofollow">http://www.thenation.com/blog/165378/beyond-pink-vs-blue</a></p> <p>I sometimes hear people say that toys and gender really isn't that big a deal and that kids can work it out on their own. The study described in this article points to a different conclusion - that kids have a tendency to police gender traditional gender norms on their own, which can be a huge detriment as they grow up when the boys have a big developmental headstart in cognitive areas important for spatial reasoning and other skills for the science and technology fields. One message to take from this study is that it's very important to encourage children to play with toys that are traditionally associated with the other gender. </p>