Boys Dressing Up Girls Clothes And Playing With Dolls

[Unregistered]

So I have wide selection of dress up clothes and ton of different toys to play with. I have one boy who just started this last week who LOVES the girls dresses and to play with the dollies. His mother came early today to pick him up and was very upset that I would allow her son to wear "girl clothes" and let him play with dolls.

I know you guys have been doing this for a really long time, what do you say to parents like this? Any great articles that I could give her that would help her understand I am not "making her son gay" ?

[Lucy]

I wouldn't get too deeply into trying to convince Mom of anything. Just laugh it off and say, "oh they're having fun", and move on. Some parents get so caught up in gender roles, and I find it ridiculous. You didn't MAKE him put on the dress -- you made toys available and he chose dressing up. His choice. I certainly wouldn't try to defend myself or convince Mom of anything at all. To do so right from the beginning could actually escalate the situation even more. If she really starts to press the issue and actually asks you not to allow him to do that, then maybe you can do some research and print some articles to give her about the fact that boys dressing up does NOT turn them gay. But for now, just shrug and smile. These kind of parents irritate me. Ugh.

[sharlan]

I had one boy who LOVED pink rain boots. He wore them every chance he got, which was daily. He single handedly wore those boots out. It drove his father so crazy that I would have to double check his feet when Dad drove up.

Today, he's a football coach at a university.

[nannyde]

So I have wide selection of dress up clothes and ton of different toys to play with. I have one boy who just started this last week who LOVES the girls dresses and to play with the dollies. His mother came early today to pick him up and was very upset that I would allow her son to wear "girl clothes" and let him play with dolls.

I know you guys have been doing this for a really long time, what do you say to parents like this? Any great articles that I could give her that would help her understand I am not "making her son gay" ?

I wouldn't discuss with them anything regarding the consequences of playing with opposite sex clothing.

The best thing to say to her is that you can't tell him he can't play with toys that are out. If she would like, you can call her when he goes to play with them and she can talk to him about it as it is happening. It would be good for her to share with him her concerns about the harmfulness of it and let him know that she doesn't want him to play with it.

She just needs to be available to work with him on it as it is happening. Let you know what number to call so you can get her immediately and make sure that there is someone avialable the entire time he is in care so it can be managed properly.

[cheerfuldom]

yup, always put it in the parents court so they aren't making demands on your time. they do have the right to raise their kids a certain way but if this is important enough to them, they need to do the work to enforce it. otherwise, use the group care reason....you can't adjust all the toys in the room to accommodate just one family. all the toys are provided for all the kids and everything is safe, age appropriate, etc.

[Country Kids]

I had one boy who LOVED pink rain boots. He wore them every chance he got, which was daily. He single handedly wore those boots out. It drove his father so crazy that I would have to double check his feet when Dad drove up.

Today, he's a football coach at a university.

Does he still wear adult size pink boots out on the field- You should send him some and enclose a note that says "Remember When".:: He would probably get a great laugh out of it!

[youretooloud]

I've only run across this one time, and it was a dad... he wasn't angry, more bothered.

So, each day we dressed him up in girly stuff and took his picture, and emailed it to dad.

Like immersion therapy.

[Auntie]

The boys in my class will do it to be funny or some just want to be the mommy. It is all play not a big deal.

I remember my brother wearing womens boots during dress up with me, LOL he always got the best pair, whether to spite me or not he turned out fine. We would pick girl names to be and this was back in the 70s.::

Wait come to think of it he has become a man shoe *****. But he is not gay but does like shoes LOL :::: Happily married his wife teases him about having more pairs of shoes than her.

[SimpleMom]

Oh goodness, I have kids do that all the time! My parents have been great about it. I even sent home a pic of one the boys all dressed up in a dress and by the kitchen play area on time. We all laughed. It was cute. Boy, girl, doesn't matter. They are learning through play and just want to dress like mom/dad. I just let them know that it's normal behavior to do that. It teaches them how to be good parents. If they had that much of a problem with it I guess I wouldn't have them here much longer. I'm pretty easy-going. Not changing that for anything. It keeps me young!! Besides, life is too short for such worry (imho). So, tell them it's normal. If they fuss about it and get on your case, find someone else

[Meyou]

My standard reply is, "We don't believe in gender stereotyping here." *Big smile*

End of conversation.

[Unregistered]

redirect her son

So I have wide selection of dress up clothes and ton of different toys to play with. I have one boy who just started this last week who LOVES the girls dresses and to play with the dollies. His mother came early today to pick him up and was very upset that I would allow her son to wear "girl clothes" and let him play with dolls.

I know you guys have been doing this for a really long time, what do you say to parents like this? Any great articles that I could give her that would help her understand I am not "making her son gay" ?

I would respect the mother's wishes and redirect her son. Its not that big of a deal and a simple change of subject would usually work with young children. I think its rude to not regard how the mother or father feels.

[Solandia]

My most popular items at the moment are 3 pink baby doll strollers. My boys LOVE them. And we have a couple of dolls, too, that get rides with the matchbox cars in the the strollers. We don't do dress up clothes, but have mardi gras beads, and washable hats, and some handbags.

All the toys are available to everyone. I am not going to micromanage them playing with toys. I micromanage kid to kid interactions, and handling disagreements...not when the child is playing nicely with toys. I have only had one dad be upset with the pink & purple backpack that dcb loved to wear --- filled with Clifford books & matchbox cars.

I just said that I thought it was cute - it was the perfect size for his needs, I am not going to shame dcb into thinking purple&pink are bad colors for boys. That was the last thing I heard on the subject.

[mrsp'slilpeeps]

My own son is 5 and he will put on the dressup clothes for the girls on and push the baby in the shopping cart, cuddle and pretend to sooth it when it cries.
I ask him, whatcha doing? He says playing house!!

I think, I am watching my son care for a pretend baby, but I cant wait to see him like that with his own babies, and hopefully play real house and help his wife out around the house when he is grown.

Never once have I been worried that he might be gay. And even if he is.... WHO CARES???

[Unregistered]

I would tell the mom that I have no issue with letting him make his own decisions. If he feels confident about his decision, then I will let him be. Confident decision makers become leaders.

[KBCsMommy]

Mom should feel flattered that her little guy wants to be just like her!!!

I mean who can resist those cute princess dresses with matching high heels and purses!!!

My ds and dcb played all afternoon with princess shoes and the Ladies (barbies)!!! They love it!!