To those with boys

[OceanPrincess]

DD chose a baby for DS for Christmas because she was sick of him stealing her babies

I also had to buy him a stroller so they could both push their babies around the house.

DS also loves playing in the little kitchen and he also has a purple handbag that he carries around. DH had no problem with it really - he bought a bucket of tools for DD and cars for her before we had DS. Funny thing now is that she is much more into her dolls, drawing and playing house where DS will search out the tools and cars.

We have in no way segregated the toys - all the tools, cars, kitchen/cooking stuff, it's all in the same room. DD's dolls are in her room unless she brings them out to play but DS's doll gets carted around wherever. They just seem to gravitate towards separate things. It's a bit weird.

[~clover~]

Having 3 girls, our house is very pink. DS has had pig tails, worn dresses (doesn't like it though) has different coloured toe nails every week & occasionally wears makeup.

I don't mind, but he's not all that interested really. He likes to play, but he doesn't want others to see If his toe nails are painted he insists on closed in shoes to leave the house

[meow]

Absolutely. I have bought my boys baby dolls, toy brooms, tea set, pink dollhouse... anything they enjoy playing with. Neither of my boys are at the stage of asking for things but if they asked for a doll then of course I'd get them a doll. It's kind of sad that there is an idea that you wouldn't. I don't understand how role playing being a parent is just for girls.

[Kazzo]

Thanks for so many great answers.

It's kind of sad that there is an idea that you wouldn't. I don't understand how role playing being a parent is just for girls.

This is exactly what I thought and why I wanted to ask. I hate hearing an adult say to a boy, don't play with that, that is girly. You never see anyone queastion when a girl plays with boy toys or even in the way they dress. I have always seen it more acceptable I guess.

Redrobinridinghood, I can understand why you stopped yourself from buying the pink wings, in all honesty I would have had the hesitation too. It would not bother me if I had a son and he wanted to wear the pink wings and were he wanted to wear them but it would worry me what others would say to him. The judgement placed by others can be so cruel and that would be my concern, that others would force their gender specific feelings onto my child. I think making your own is a great idea though and great fun.

[Freya]

Ofcourse. Wouldnt even cross my mind to say no. Ds2 even has two pony baby plush toys that talk to you (you feed them, give them medicine etc).

But I am a mother of a 4yo boy with the biggest My Little Pony collection on earth lol

[~Kim~]

We aldready had those toys and DS loves them.
DD1 bought him his own pram for Christmas. My DH was a bit reticent to start with, but who cares really.
DS also loves the Babries and dolls house and Polly Pockets ATM. The polly pockets are great for fine motor and dexterity.
He's also a huge fan of nail polish.

[Phteven]

Both my boys have worn pink and played with dolls much to my IL's disgust and DS2 loves nail polish. Thus far their penises haven't fallen off.

[AngelPants]

yep DS has two dolls here and at my mums he has all my old dolls and dolls pram and he loves them. every time we go to a friends place who has little girls he loves playing with their dolls and their princess dress ups. on sat night he was walking around all night in purple heels, a tiara and a pink fluffy handbag saying oooh preeeety DH was mortified and tried to make him stop and got a resounding "no daddy!" but his favourite toys in the world are trains and trucks.... as i see it, dressing up is learning. playing with dolls is practising being a daddy just as little girls practice being mummy.

[Cranky Kitten]

Heh, I've always said every kid needs a baby doll and a tonka truck. So yes, I'm quite ok with buying DS dolls, kitchens, fairy dress ups and so on if he wants them. Just the same as DD adored her tonka truck and tractor sets as a little kid and even now has a thing for hot wheels cars and car models.

Funnily enough, I remember pinching my brother's lego and meccano when I was a kid. And demanding that my step-brother played dolls and horses with me.

[feeb]

Oh forgot DS1 has a Jessie doll (toy story) he told every santa we saw at shopping centres that he wanted 1 for christmas, how could I not get it. DH was not impressed as its girly!! Grrr damm him.

[meow]

Heh, I've always said every kid needs a baby doll and a tonka truck.

I agree! We gave our son his first doll & tonka truck for his first birthday

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

DS likes to play at hairdressers with me, likes to dress up in whatever (although he now prefers to dress me up), treats his soft toys as babies and loves cooking - in my kitchen or his play kitchen. He has recently discovered that growing his hair long won't turn him into a girl, so has requested to have long hair to his feet. His favourite colours are pink and purple: he has a pink bedroom.

He also plays schools with his cars a lot, and has his lego "baddies" kill all the other lego people. He also loves to have dinosaurs attack everyone.

[~*familyof3*~]

Yep! DS2 had dolls and pram teddys ect ect his dad hated it but hey at the time he wasnt even 5yrs old. I put it down to why not men have babies i was nurturing his nurturing side. He played with trucks ect too so whats the harm

[Fig]

My DS plays with dolls, but mostly by throwing them around, or hiding them from his sister.

There are no restrictions on what either of my children a girl and a boy play with. However, with out a doubt my DD plays with traditional girls toys and my DS plays with traditional boys toys. They do occasionally play with all toys, but not in the same way. Until I had one of each I thought that it was more cultural that there were boys and girls toys. After, I now realized that, my two at least, are just wired differently.