Boys and Dolls

[Alicia]

I was reading a thread in the men's forum where they spoke about men stepping up and taking their place and someone mentioned little boys playing with dolls. I was wondering what you think about that as parents?

I personally know a man who allows his son and daughter to play with dolls together. He believes that a boy should not be taught to only be tough but also have a gentle side when needed to equip him to understand females better.

Please give your views on this. Thanks

 

[rizen1]

Boys playing with dolls.

If you communicate with your kids about male and female roles, I dont think there would be any confusion.

When a child see a toy, all they want to do is play with it.
Even though they are innocent we must be observant to how they relate to the toys.

I wouldnt mind but then we have the stereo type of " girly man ", if he plays with dolls it makes him a " sissy "
If he's playing with his sister, that's cute, but I will supervise . Plus there are male dolls he can play with.

 

[mounty]

Children are children let them be.
My little girl plays with toy cars and trucks and i have seen so many little boys pushing prams. I would not stop them from playing with certain toys after all a toy is just a toy and they are too young to understand the difference.
So many of my friends encourage it as they use the doll to show their sons how to treat a little baby. Its a great method and it works.
I would not worry as when they are a few years older anything to do with girls inc dolls and prams are soooooo not cool to them.

 

[trulyblezzed]

Well it all depends. Is little Jimmy role playing as Malibu Barbie or GI Joe?

I don't think boys should play with Barbies.

 

[Christy74]

My JP (now 6) used to play with my Abby's dolls. He was quite the little daddy,
cuddling and kissing the baby. But he grew out of them, and now all he wants to
play with are dinosaurs and cars. I wouldn't worry too much about boys playing
with dolls. They generally grow out of it, when, as Mounty said, playing with girl things
and being around girls becomes totally not cool

 

[rizen1]

= TrullyBlezzed
Well it all depends. Is little Jimmy role playing as Malibu Barbie or GI Joe?

Good question sister.

 

[mounty]

Allowing a child to express his personality is vitial to his development. If he chooses to express himself through a doll and a pram, who cares? as long as he is expressing himself. Our children use their toys to act out their feelings. GI JOE doesent seem like a good example. Isnt he the one that runs around with guns?
It is the parents choice of course but it is a known fact this being backed up by hundreds of psychologists restricting your childs toys because of gender is not healthy.

 

[rizen1]

I think a child could learn about nurturing through having a pet.
Yes the child is innocent and just wants to play, but we live in a corrupt society where these same psychologists are brain washing kids into thinking they're gay, because of childhood memories.

I would not want my child to be questioning why he played with barbie more than his power rangers.

Plus you can get biblical character dolls

 

[mounty]

this is begining to turn into a debate which is against TJ rules so i wont reply again

 

[Cody]

I agree with Rizen1. When I have a kid, I'm not letting him play with "girly" toys or watch anything on TV that looks sissy. Men are suppose to be manly. Personality starts at a young age and we must remember that.

My dad raised me like a man and taught me to do manly things. He told me not to act like a sissy and was strict on me as a kid and I believe he did a good job.

 

[Dreamer]

I don't give my Caleb barbie dolls to play with. Even though he is only 2 years old. His older sister, who is 15, is selling all her old barbies, because she needs spending money. I wouldn't even think of giving them to her little brother to play with.

Caleb likes toy trucks, toy cars, and any kind of ball that you can think of. And I like it that way. He likes to watch Dora the Explorer on t.v., and that is fine, but he LOVES to watch Go Diego Go...who is the male animal rescuer counterpart for Dora. Dora the Explorer is educational in nature and I don't feel it values one gender over another. Go Diego Go is action/adventure combined with educational.

Boys are boys. Girls are girls. There are some things all children need: love, security, a home, food, clothing.

Some other things they need vary a bit.

There is a lot of brainwashing going on in the media right now. They seem to encourage teens to ponder whether they are gay or not. So as parents we need to take some caution and think and pray about what we are doing and how we raise our precious ones.

 

[Alicia]

Thank you all for your answers.

I have considered all the replies and I am not convinced that a boy who plays with dolls at time...even 'girly ones' would make him grow up to be less of a man or less masculine. He may understand girls and women better but not necessarily turn out to be gay. Then again, if there is a pattern developing, like in his behaviour, then maybe he should be stopped.

The boy that I am referring to is a twin and his main playmate is a girl (his sister). She would play with his toys and he would play with hers at times and he is very masculine at 10 years.

Sometimes we get so homophobic and emphasize too much on what boys should and should not do while our girls experiment with each other and the parents overlook them. Why is it ok for girl to be tomboys but the slightest sign of any feminine characteristics in boy is condemned by us?

God bless you all!