I have a 5 year old son who wants to cheerlead this fall season. I've notice over the last year and a half that he has taken an interest in girl based activites. He wears his shirts on his head for hair, loves the Bratz and any other Disney female actress. I don't mind him cheering, just afraid at the way people will look at/treat him. What do you think, SERIOUS REPLIES ONLY!
2007-10-19 10:25:10 · 11 answers · asked by T.I.M.E. 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
you should let him be himself. If he wants to cheer let him. hes so young right now, he might grow out of this stage.
2007-10-19 10:31:27 · answer #1 · answered by speechy 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Where I am from, cheerleading is not viewed as a "Girl's Sport" anymore. Boys have the strength to lift the girls on the pyramids, and so forth. I do not know what kind of environment/neighbourhood you live in, and it would be rude of me to assume anything, but what makes your 5 year old happy? I think that a parent's responsbility is to take everything (location, demographics, social envrionment etc.) into consideration before making any decisions. Its never easy as a parent, because we are always second guessing ourselves, but if you (which I am sure you do) provide your son with the love and support he needs right now, he will turn out just fine. Maybe you could both watch a college football game, or basketball game and watch the cheerleading together. It would give you both a better understanding of what is involved in cheerleading.
2007-10-19 14:23:51 · answer #2 · answered by Queen B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's what I'd recommend, I actually have guy friends who used to act like this, they turned out perfectly fine. But one thing I'd do, instead of signing him up for cheerleading, put him in gymnastics. That way that if he keeps up this love, he'll be great for high school and junior high. As I've heard from my cheering guy friends, they all say that it's a definite plus. You pretty much hang out with girls all day and they're not mocked or anything. But all that they've said is that don't do it younger, instead do gymnastics as it's not as frowned upon, and helps you get ready for when you're in middle school or high school. If he really doesn't want to do that though, just let him do a small cheerleading course. You may have a couple problems with the instructors as if they wear anything, they'll have to find another uniform for your son since they usually expect girls. But I'd say, let him go for it.
2007-10-19 10:33:19 · answer #3 · answered by Linzz 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
let him cheer, in fact the older cheerleaders might encourage him as a mascot or something......... and there are plenty of male cheerleaders in colleges around the country......
As for the Bratz and other Disney stuff, what's the harm, he'll grow out of it eventually, and if not, then so what?......
And people are people all over the world, what people protest the most about, is usually what they are hiding in their closets..........
2007-10-19 11:00:14 · answer #4 · answered by bizzymom38 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hope you live in an area that ia generally accepting of this. In my opinion, more power to him if thats what he wants to do. But I know that in my home town a boy would not have been allowed to cheer, and even the male cheerleaders in college catch a lot of flack.
I would allow him to do it and if ppl start saying stuff use it as a learning tool that not everyone is as open and nice to other ppl as you guys are and that no matter of someones differences making fun is not nice.
2007-10-19 13:21:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree to let him be himself. He will probably grow out of it, but if he doesn't will you love him any less? Also, if he stays in cheerleading it will be a great way for him to meet girls and/or friends now and later on in life! I wouldn't worry about what others way say, only worry about his happiness and that he is doing things that he enjoys. There will always be some issue for people to talk about, if he's happy who cares what they're talking about?
2007-10-19 10:34:00 · answer #6 · answered by k monster 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Let him cheer. The gymnastics suggestion is a great one also.
My brother loved the colour pink until he was about 6. He's as straight as an arrow.
These behaviours at this age mean nothing.
Even if he does turn out to be gay - who cares?
2007-10-19 10:41:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Let him express himself in whatever safe way he wants to , I have a daughter 9 now that has played tackle football for the past two years and ya people talk and have their own opinion but they will always talk so let your boy be him !!!
2007-10-19 10:33:43 · answer #8 · answered by DIVA C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
let him be himself
dont try to stiffle his interests or creativity
does he have any male role models, because that may be part of the issue. something to think about, maybe, depending on your situation.
good luck to him! i hope he does well at whatever he sets his young heart and mind to!
2007-10-19 10:34:41 · answer #9 · answered by JEN 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i know the right answer would be "let him do is own thing and express himself. he has the right to do what he wants." but, to tell you the truth, there are many rude people in this world and there's a chance that his peers will ridicule him.
2007-10-19 10:32:11 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋