Why do boys naturally like boy things and girls naturally like girl things? I don't know, but they do.
I have 2 year old twins, one girl and one boy. My boy, without any prompting, has an obsession with tractors, race cars, bigrig trucks and mudpuddles. He makes noises when he plays with his toys like a giant diesel engine. If there is a mudpuddle in my yard, he jumps in it, repeatedly.
My girl loves Barbies, Polly Pockets and stuffed animals. She cuddles them, makes them talk and gives them "baths." She helps her older sister perform weddings too.
Is there genetics at play here? Is the maternal instinct for women already present at two years old? Is the hunter-gatherer instinct what makes boys like big loud machines? Who knows. Maybe readers here can shed some light on this.
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3 comments:
First and foremost - thank you for contributing.
Let me pose this question - did you buy the trucks for the boys before they expressed an interest? same question for the girls and their dolls.
I know i was buying swords, guns, monster trucks, etc when Bryce was 3 months old. Just curious how much of this is nature vs. nurture.
I agree that there seems to be something inside them that just "knows". Lucas was fascinated, and would sign (before he could even talk) every time he saw a concrete mixer.
However, I also think we have a lot of influence. When Lucas showed interest in trucks, we gave him books on trucks. When he was interested a sparkly, sequin-covered stick from one of my old dance costumes, however, we were a little less enthusiastic. And sometimes, honestly, I feel bad about that...about subtly choosing what is most socially-acceptable for them to be interested in. I want to prepare them for the world, but I also want to be a safe place for them if, say, he decides to be a tap-dancing, sequin-wearing kind of guy.
So I tend to think of it as my job to soften Lucas and toughen Maggie. I feel like the world will do enough of the opposite (toughening Lucas and softening Maggie). Both of my kids love mud puddles, want to sword fight with sticks, and describe themselves as "fierce" (as in "a lion", not as in "a supermodel"). Both of them are also, for now, very sweet and cuddly. We'll see.
As an uber tomboy I always thought I'd raise my kids in a gender neutral way - but from the minute she popped out I've not been able to resist girly nicknames and she looks damn cute in pink. I'm still a little disturbed by her preference for chewing on dolls' feet, but at least she also likes balls and blocks.
I've had to accept that boys and girls ARE different - in general - but we should give them both a variety of experiences to decide if they're tap-dancing or sword-wielding kind of people.
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