Buying girls toys for a boy

[numnum]

My friend is having a debate with her friend over girls toys for boys.

Her friends toddler boy has asked for a pram, doll and cot from Santa. My friend thinks she would be completely wrong to get him this.

What do you think? Would you plan to go out and buys girls toys for your boy?

My little boy runs about with my daughters pram (even if he is planning to launch it from a piece of furniture!!!) and I think nothing of the fact he's playing with a pink pram and my daughter is toy story crazy at the moment and I had looked up ordering a woody doll for her Christmas which might be classed as being for boys.

Her friends kids are 2 boys so there would be no prams, dolls etc in the house. So to them it could just be an exciting new toy to explore

I did work in a private pre-school nursery and I do remember one boy getting sent to nursery with girls toys and had long hair that would get tied back like a girl. That was more because the mother wanted a girl and that was the only child she would have. I would maybe think this was more wrong than what my friend is debating.

[fliptheswitch]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it at all. I'll be honest, I used to. When my sister got my son a pink teapot when he was a baby, I took it back to the shop and changed it for a Blue one! lol. Looking back, that is ridiculous. Think I did it more for his father, who wasn't happy about it at all.

As for the woman who sent her son to school like a little girl... now that's a bit weird.

[sherrardk]

If the little boy wants a pram, etc then Santa should bring it for him - but buy it really close to Christmas in case he changes his mind.

[boxtops]

I think it's fine, if he wants to play daddy. Not so different from a girl getting a train set (as I did).

[ummmm]

If that's what he wanted. My son was obsessed with pink, purple and anything glittery. He was also big into Polly Pockets....

Now he's obsessed with Green Day and Harry potter...

[fliptheswitch]

I was obsessed with cars, skateboards and wrestling!

[numnum]

haha, i got a train set aswell for my 1st christmas. I think my dad bought it before i was born and hoped i was a boy!!! haha

Yeah, i dont think my friend should be worrying about what her friends boy wants.

[starone]

My grandson had a teaset when he was small. He played with it for hours. We all drank imaginary tea from the cups. He is now 20 and perfectly normal - at university and has a girl friend. And he makes a lovely cup of tea. When my two were young the girl had a pram - the boy used to sit her in it and chase up and down the street with it - they both had a great time. Very good toy. Also my daughter had a cowboy outfit and believe me she is now the most feminine of ladies. A toy is just that and I can see no harm in them playing with whatever there is.

[Caran]

My granddaughter who is a twin decided she was a boy when she was 3. She only wants boy toys and clothes, she is now 5.5 and at school, only wears trousers and shorts, only plays with boys, does rugby and football. She has progressed from outright boy to a tomboy. We think it is part of her twin identity as they are identical (I can only tell who is who by what they wear) It doesn't do any harm to pander to their whims, they will grow out of it eventually.

[k8bailey]

I don't think there's anything wrong with it, I'm thinkng of getting my little girl a train set. I'd rather buy them something they'll enjoy, than waste my money on something I think they ought to be playing with, but they don't want!

My nephew loves coming here because my girls have bears with loads of girlie clothes, he loves changing their outfits but his dad calls him gay to his face when he does, he's only 4....now that's wrong, imo!

[numnum]

i remember being into the WWF figures and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I cant remember my brother wanting to play with my toys but his were far better than mine

[starone]

If he keeps calling him gay he will grow up to think that he is. How shortsighted your nephew's dad is k8. I think it is quite acceptable for boys to do girls things. There are many (rich) male dress designers. Lots of (also rich) chefs, especially those who have tv programmes. Wouldn't you think cooking and dress designing would be female occupations?

[daffy654]

I bought a toy buggy for my son when he was a toddler, he loved it.

[slinkycat]

I loved my train set and matchbox cars when I was little. My twin boys loved to clomp around in my high heels when they were little, and also spent hours "doing" my hair along with their older sister!

[Answerprancer]

I think it is totally healthy for little boys to be allowed to play with toys that are traditionally the domain of girls. Boys should be allowed to explore their natural urges to nurture and be gentle.
Transformers and Bionicle one minute, putting Annabel to bed the next makes perfect sense to me !

[fliptheswitch]

Hear, hear, AP :-)

[divegirl]

My son used to have something like this.....

http://www.argos.co.u...chtext%3ETOY+PRAM.htm

and a Cabbage Patch Doll, he's 20 next month.... 6' 3'' with a beard....never did him any harm.

Lisa x

[cathfromsaron]

i had cars and trains as a girl, and my nephew 'played daddy' with dolls!

but, i agree that its difficult!

cath x

[firewatch]

my brother only ever tortured our dolls!
but he did play with our tea sts and sylvanian families.
my daughter has a train set blue and yellow trike and loads of toy cars in fact given the choice of a doll and a car shed go for the car and graffiti the doll
our friends 4 yr old wants toy cleaning stuff for christmas, his dad wanted him to have a remote controlled car lol
so go for it i wouldnt have a problem with itx

[karenmac60]

Better he plays at being daddy with a pram than plays at being some sort of gangster with toy guns!

[notasyoungasiwas]

Good one karen.