Thankfully there are the once piece swimsuits around for kids with high sun protection and my son does wear one - but once again the boys ones are BLACK!!!!! A great colour to wear in the sun!

BRIGHT BOTS sell coloured sunsafe suits for boys that aren't black. They have their own website, or you can buy them IRL at stockists, such as the AntiCancer Council Shop in your state.

It is so hard to buy him toys that aren't spiderman, the HUlk or TMNT or Princesses and Dora. His favourite wiggles character is Dorothy Dinosaur but can I find him something that isn't blatantly "girly".

I have just had a daughter so I guess I am about to experience the flip side of the coin. She wears her brothers clothes and looks stunning in blue and green, and is often mistaken for a boy bcos she is blue or green.

I guess what I am trying to say is that as parents WE can sexualise and gender stereotype our children before society even gets to them.

We dress them, we begin their education every time we buy a toy, book, video or piece of clothing.
i agree with you NELLY. every time we make a purchase, it's a political decision. we are voting with our dollars.

my DD looks great in blue and green too (blue eyes, blond hair). she's 35 months, and it's only been the last few months i've stopped getting the "what a lovely little boy you have" type comments (her hair took ages to grow and i hardly ever have her in pink).

i am finding it easier to buy presents for my DD from places other than toysrus and the usual kmart/bigw/target type sources. that way, i can avoid the gender crap/ the franchising stuff. so now i look online at ecotoys, bumblebeetoys, dragonflytoys, edex (a site that supplies kindies and schools) and type in "organic toys" "wooden toys" "fairtrade toys" into google and see what comes up. You get toys that are much more "open ended" meaning the child is free to use their imagination when they play with them.

for my DD's 3rd birthday, i'm going to look at toddler friendly stuff at a craft supplies shop (to encourage painting). i have also made a decision to not have battery powered toys for her. The noise stresses me out, those toys make her very passive and robotic. Esp the musical ones, instead of "playing" an instrument (with batteries), she just pushes buttons frenetically, not even waiting to hear what sounds come out, just pushing buttons for the sake of it. WHen she uses a real drum, (soft bongos) she enjoys hearing the sounds SHE makes on it.

of course, non plastic toys DO cost more, but i have come to the conclusion "less is more". Less number of toys bought, but better quality. (plus the thought that every plastic toy, is made out of petroleum, really puts me off too, i don't want more petroleum fumes in our home).

i would love my nearly 3 DD to play with your DS and his kitchen, it would be nice NOT to hear the boyfriend/girlfriend stuff! i hear that too. so inappropriate and unnecessary. Their age group LOVES the "home corner" at childcare, no wonder he loves his kitchen. good on you for giving him that freedom, i hear so many parents DENY their children various play experiences, due to the PERCEIVED idea of what THAT particular gender SHOULD be playing with. i think those parents have just been successfully brainwashed (by toysrus etc) into what their children "should" be playing with.