Outside toys are a great example of gender-neutral — from trampolines to monkey bars to bicycles and swing sets — boys and girls can play it all. The Geo Dome Climber is a favorite for its versatility. Kids can climb it, swing from it or play underneath it.
Assigning gendered labels to toys can increase feelings of anxiety amongst children who may be worried about playing with the wrong toy. Before 3, children are likely to play with whatever toy is put in front of them. Any gender cues that they pick up on will come from their parents or others in the room.
GENDER-NEUTRAL TOYS PROMOTE EXPERIMENTAL THINKING
These toys are specifically designed to encourage open-ended play. This means gender-neutral toys can teach children to play with room for trial and error; they are allowed to experiment and make mistakes. Children learn that errors are okay and a part of learning.
The kinds of toys American children play with tend to adhere to a clear gender binary. Toys marketed to boys tend to be more aggressive and involve action and excitement. Girl toys, on the other hand, are usually pink and passive, emphasizing beauty and nurturing.
One study found that toys marketed to girls were associated with stereotypically feminine traits: physical attractiveness, nurturance, and domestic skills. Toys marketed to boys were associated with stereotypically masculine traits like violence, competition, excitement, and danger.
Instead of trying to pick toys based on your child's sex, select toys that are safe for them. Do not limit your sons from playing with dolls and similarly, do not keep your girls away from playing with race cars. Similarly toy companies should take initiative to build a safe and more equal environment for kids.
The research also found LEGOs are considered a "boy" toy – with 59% of parents saying they encourage their sons to build with LEGO bricks compared to 48% who say they encourage it with their daughters.
Outside toys are a great example of gender-neutral — from trampolines to monkey bars to bicycles and swing sets — boys and girls can play it all. The Geo Dome Climber is a favorite for its versatility.
Traditionally masculine toys like blocks and puzzles, Dr. Spinner said, encourage visual and spatial skills, while traditionally feminine toys encourage communication and social skills. “If children only play with one, then they are missing out on a whole host of skills,” she said.
Play with masculine toys is associated with large motor development and spatial skills, while play with feminine toys is associated with developing fine motor skills (fingers), language and social skills. We should be encouraging well-rounded kids with many diverse interests and skills.
Possible Cons of gender-neutral Parenting
Possible drawbacks of gender-neutral parenting include: Increased risk of bullying: Other children are quick to notice differences among their peers, and children who don't follow gender norms may be subject to teasing or bullying.
The pronouns he or she may be replaced with they when the gender of the person referred to is unknown. In addition, those who do not identify as either female or male may use a gender-neutral pronoun to refer to themselves or have others refer to them.
If you have a boy who loves dolls or a girl who loves trucks, that's great too! Provide opportunities for all kids to broaden their horizons, and let them know that it's OK for girls and boys to play with whatever toys they'd like. Want to learn more about play therapy and how toys can help kids express themselves?
Kids practice how to interact with other people in a non–threatening environment when they play with dolls. They can emulate the adults in their life, make mistakes without fear. It helps children to identify with dolls so that they can imagine the world from their perspectives and build empathy.
Pollack stresses that a boy playing with dolls is "absolutely normal." And even if the boy would rather play with Barbie over GI Joe regularly, it's still normal. The distinction, says Pollack, is if the child says, "I don't like being a boy" or "I want to be a girl."
Common Gender:
Words like a parent, friend, child, servant, enemy, thief, cousin, baby, student, writer, teacher, etc.
Because gendered products are cultural extensions of the secondary sexual characteristics, they exaggerate human sexual dimorphism to deliver the same benefits as secondary sexual characteristics: they can increase physical attractiveness.
Flowers and makeup are stereotypically associated with femininity in Western culture.
Avoid toys and games that deliberately encourage gender stereotypes, such as pink packaging, unicorns, rainbows and hearts for girls versus blue packaging, robots, spaceships and toolboxes for boys. Ensure that toys and games given to children are inclusive and diverse in their representation.
'They,' for instance, is a third-person pronoun that is gender neutral. Other gender-neutral pronouns include 'them', 'this person', 'everyone', 'Ze', or 'Hir'. If you're not sure which pronoun to use, you can also use that person's name.
The Impact of Gender Stereotypes
Action figures, construction sets, and science kits are often associated with boys, while dolls, kitchen playsets, and makeup kits are commonly labeled as girls' toys. This gender-based categorization limits children's choices, reinforcing societal expectations and stereotypes.
While Lego Duplo sets are suitable for children as young as 1 ½ years old, most sets are geared towards ages 4 and up, with some sets designed for even older builders (18+). Additionally, Lego offers sets specifically designed for teens and adults, with more complex building challenges and advanced building techniques.
The Danish toy company announced Monday that it will work to remove gender stereotypes from its products and marketing, citing the results of a worldwide survey that found general attitudes toward kids' play and creative careers remain "unequal and restrictive."
LEGOs are a OK toy to use no matter what age you are.
They encourage creative thinking and can develop moter skills no matter what age you are. So yes, your son playing with Legos is ok.