Is there anything wrong with my son playing girl things instead of boy things?

Question

My son is 8 years old and I have heard people call him gay because he plays with girls and girly thing instead of boys and boy things. Should I do anything or is this okay.

Answer 1

Don't do that to him. Kids are curious. Let him be. People are so full of labels.

Answer 2

its just fine .. listen when i was he age i played with all the little girly toys including barbies. I even have a step son that enjoys playing with girl toys more then boy toys your son's not gay or going too be gay. I've done co-op at alot of schools and alot of boys play with girl toys even my little brother has been and still does designing barbie cloth's since he was 8 and he's 13 now. It's perfectly normal so don't worry about it just introduce him too what boys play with and he'll probally start picking it up. I no alot about this stuff so if you need to ask a question e-mail me at [e-mail] Matt

Answer 3

Is there a father in the house? If so get him off his butt and have him toss around the pigskin a little. If not find some male exposure for him. Most boys who play only with girls and girly things are just going with what they have to work with. If he is only surrounded by female family members, friends, and items then what do you expect? I have one girl and three boys... my daughter loves football, action figures, and wrestlin around with her brothers. She is still very girly, because any interest she shows in girl things, she gets. She has a princess bed set, all the Bratz crap you can think of, a little hair and makeup set. So I guess what I'm saying is don't yank away the barbie, just tell him its OK to hike up her skirt every once in a while... so to speak

Answer 4

Well you have to ask yourself a few things: have you asked him what it is that he likes? Hobbies or sports, etc? and where does he get the "girl toys" from? is there someone around him influencing his behavior? My daughter is 5 and she is in love with Spider-man and Batman. At first I would keep telling her that those were boy things, but I had to stop. She likes what she likes. I still don't allow her to have boy theme items (spider-man bike she is asking for) but I let her have certain things with that theme. I just don't think that it is fair to say that he is gay. Kids should have the freedom to play with any toy they want too. They need the balance. But there is a time where it has to be controlled.

Answer 5

If he has mainly girls to play with it's only natural! Make sure that he does have some good males in his life--not ones who call him gay! Also make sure you encourage his boyness. If you're single sometimes it's hard to let your kid know you like and admire his boyhood! Talk about what is great about being a guy and talk about the guys in your life you love and admire and that he reminds you of. A lot of boys his age are so anti-girl he might have trouble finding other boys he can identify with so try to find a few male friends for him--ones who share interests. Take him to the local lego building contest--these boys tend to be more imagination minded and less physical sometimes! Sign him up for an art class or music class, the boys in those classes are also often of a gentler nature.

It is hard being a male in our society. So much of television etc. attacks them constantly and makes them out to be stupid. Make him proud to be a "man" and show him how to be a good one. Try to speak well about his father, I realize this can be hard especially if he's not with you. But all people have good attributes try to concentrate on those. He really needs some nice males to model himself after!

Answer 6

there is nothing wrong with this My son was like my shadow he wanted to do everything clean cook vacuum so yes I bought the kids stuff for him. Well that was 10 years a go and he is such a great kid he still helps me and doesn't even complain now my husband doesn't even know how to wash dishes or even start the grill. Me letting my son play with girl things made him a perfect pick for some girl later in life cause he will know how to help.

Answer 7

Don't worry about it. If his "friends" are teasing him about it, they are obviously not his friends. My little nephew was the exact same way. He would run to the girls section in stores--- only to find out it was all pink. He hated pink, but he liked playing with dolls. If it's bothering you or your spouse or family members, I would recommend a brand called "Groovy Girls". They also have "Groovy Boys"-- they are a soft toy doll with different clothes and 'assessories'; for the girl dolls they go from phones to a box of pizza, and the boy dolls snowboards and binders. It's probably just a phase. If it really bothers you and continues (I do NOT mean to be rude saying this), it may just be the way he is.

Answer 8

He is still very young and its okay to play with girl things at his age. I'm sure that he is normal and I don't think you should force him to play with boy toys if he is not interested in them. To each their own is what I like to say. He is going to be the way he wants so just let him have fun as a kid.

Answer 9

In my opinion, I think ur sons just going through a stage which is normal--
If he was to still do that at the age of about 13-then maybe u should do somthing-like make him join a sport so he'l be playing with the guys and make more guy friends-
hope this helps!

Answer 10

I don't think it is anything to worry about at all.

And at the end of the day, what are you going to do about it? If playing with girls and girl things makes him happy, then leave him be.

The only thing you achieve with trying to change it is to force him into a stereotypical view of the world. We have enough of that as it is.

Answer 11

You can't do anything about it. Forcing him to play with things he doesnt want to play will only ruin his childhood. He might be gay, or he might just be more interested in girly stuff. My point is, it doesnt matter, just let him play with whatever he wants to play. He's only 8 after all, he still has time to change on his own.