toys

[sarahhawdon]

i have a presentation to do and my group has decided to do about toys. i would like to know why do you think we sterotype when buying toys for boys and girls?

thank you

[ganesh]

You already asked that question and it's still on there about 6 pages back!!!!!!!!!!(how sad am I?)
I remembered answering it-that's why I looked.

[HJT40]

I think it is down to preconceptions from previous generations, that they would never have imagined or accepted that boy play with anything other than "boys toys" and girls likewise. Perhaps they thought that by playing with these stereotypical toys it would help them in the progression, after all it was only natural then that girls looked after dolls (babies) etc. Things have now changed and it is acceptable for girls to play with cars, as I did, and boys have dolls etc. In a nutshell I would say that it was society deciding how we grew up and it will take a while for us to change completely.

[HJT40]

Ganesh, wish I had seen you answer before I replied, Doh! Oh well, fingers now properly exercised.

[ganesh]

I still think it's fine to give dolls to boys,train sets to girls etc,but I know from experience now that they gravitate towards their stereo-typical toys anyway. My son always headed for the cars, in the playgroup,and my daughter,deliberately brought up not to be a girly girl,would find the 'my little pony'.
I honestly used to think they were the same but they're not ,and I don't see any problem with that.The answer is surely to treat them the same but get what they will individually most enjoy.

[FlowerPetal]

What about the thought of females being brought up to care and the males being brought up to provide? Thats happened over centuries and no matter how much we try and change it, its in our genetic makeup (sadly)
Also, how much variety is there in boys toys?? Cars, action men, balls etc....whereas in the girls section, the list can go on and on.
I've always brought my nephews and male cousins a hoover and irons etc and the female cousins have always had cars etc - all grew up to be sane normal kids lol
Flower xx

[angeldraws]

Personally i think children shouldnt be treated 'the same' - but equally......ie. give them all the same opportunities, which falls into being 'politically correct' and this is generally what is being promoted nowadays in society. To be fair it's only right really......