Reject Gender Specific Toys For Toddler

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When you walk into a baby girl's nursery, your eyes are blinded by 'pinks' , dolls and charming tea sets. But when you venture into a little boy's room you see trucks, cars, bikes and superheroes. Have you wondered why there is difference between the toys of a boy and girl child? Both are toddlers and hardly aware of their gender. And yet, we condition them with gender specific toys.

We are calling these toys gender specific, because they are based on preconceived societal notions. It is the society that has decided in advance that girls like to play with dolls and boys prefer cars. These gender specific toys are not chosen by your toddler; you have chosen these toys for them. According to modern child psychology, your toddler's gender identity does not begin so early. That is why such specific toys are unnecessary.

Here are some parenting tips for you to choose the best toys for your toddlers.

Let Them Choose

Always allow your toddler to choose his/her own toys. You can give then options in a toy store and see what they pick. This develops independent thinking in the child. They learn to choose their own toys and eventually make their own choices in life.

Do Not Impose

If you give your toddler a ready-made set of toys, then you are imposing a gender stereotype on them. If you give your little girl only dolls to play with, then you are discouraging her instinct to play with cars and grow up to be a motor racing driver. Similarly, if you give your little boy only cars then may be his artistic side is not being explored.

Gender Roles Are Arbitrary

Your toddler's gender identity is not biased like yours. So little boy does not know that cooking is a role unfit for men. He may want to play with a girl's cooking set. Do not feel anxious by such behaviour. Your boy may grow up to be a great chef!

Gender Neutral Toys

Sometimes, the best way to motivate your toddler is by giving him or her gender neutral toys. Building blocks, colours, puzzles are toys that can be used by both boys and girls. At least toddler's toys should be gender neutral so that they develop their mental faculties.

Follow these parenting tips so that your toddler's gender identity can develop in a natural way and not be imposed upon him or her.