'Girlie' behaviour by my son

[gder]

My 3 yr old boy loves all things 'girlie'. He loves high shoes, nail polish, dolls, hair clips, mermaids, dresses and everything for girls. I have not worried about this as I see no harm in it at this age but he is now being teased at my other son's school and I am aware he is starting preschool soon and will encounter this more and more. I worry for him in the future as our society sees this behaviour as wrong.
Any advice or experience of this would be great.

My friends 3yo was exactly the same, she used to really panic about it but he outgrew it close to 4.

My son went through a short stage of wearing his little sister's dresses, he'd wake up in the morning and raid her wardrobe.

It's normal, he'll outgrow it, don't worry.

If he were a girl that played footy and wore trousers and liked action men no one would care don't worry he will learn as he grows and if he doesn't then that may just be who he is x

What is he wearing when you pick up your other son that means he is teased?

I would just moderate what he wears out and about. I don't let DS wear dressing up clothes out of the house and I wouldn't let a daughter wear a princess dress to preschool.

however, if he wants to wear nail polish and hair clips, why not? Just think, if he was a girl, would you let her wear them to pre school?

At home, let him do as he likes.

And look at Gwen Stefani's kids - and they're considered 'cool'!!

He loves to carry a barbie or mermaid to school. I don't let him out of the house with dresses on but I do let him carry pink toys and dolls. He is such a sweet and gentle child but he also loves rough and tumble.
I think I know not to worry too much but I just don't want him to have any trouble making friends.

Maybe I shoudl just stop worrying, his Dad doesn't seem to worry at all.

DS was pushing his toy round in a bright pink stroller yesterday! And I saw a little boy pushing a doll in the swings yesterday (DD was in the next swing and loved it!).

I wouldn't worry. When I started school there was a little boy who only played with the girls toys and all his friends were girls. I don't seem to remember the boys teasing him or the girls ostracising him.

Don't worry about it, who cares what other people think? And at 3YO I don't think they really register the nasty thing other people say (could be wrong, it's been a decade since my youngest was that age).

Myds is 7 and he has 2 cousins,male,8 and 9.They are your typical boys really,into football,rough n tumble,making guns out of lego and so on.

I had to laugh though.Recently they all had a sleepover and insisted in sleeping in the living room in a den.At 9ish I left them to it.At 9.30 I crept downstairs to check they hadn't put the telly on or anything,only to find the three of them engrossed in playing with dd's toy Ikea kitchen!!!!

I wouldn't worry,your little one is only 3!

Children are way more accepting then adults IME, I was a reception teaching assistant before my last 2 DC and we had a little boy who loved all things ''girlie'' (I hate that term myself, think all toys/games/colours are equal) he had a pink backpack with a doll attached, a pink water bottle, drew only in pink and some pink items of clothing.... he also loved playing rough and tumble as well as hoola hooping (he could do over 100)very impressive) and he was one of the most popular children with both sexes... had no problems with friendships... I honestly don't think you need to worry x HTH

My nan took my dad to the doctors (!) when he was little because he liked playing with dolls. The doctor just laughed (even in those days) and said: "I wouldn't worry Mrs. It probably means he'll make a good father one day." Sixty something years on and he's a father to three daughters and has always taught us we can achieve whatever we want to achieve. He was a very hands on dad, still enjoys cooking most days, changed our nappies, got up in the night and calmed us, made us laugh as we were growing up etc etc.

He's very strongly opposed to sexism in any way and is, imo at least, an excellent dad. My guess is your DS will be just fine!

My 5 year old boy is just growing out of this phase. At dress up time at preschool he would always choose the ballerina costumes, teamed with high heels, and would tell anyone who listened that when he grew up he wanted to be a girl. He still asks me to put make up on him, if I'm applying my own (and perfume) and his favourite colour is sill pink. He did get some light hearted teasing at preschool (ohh, you've chosen the girl stuff - type comments) but we just taught him to shrug and say, "so what, that's what I want to play with". Mind you, he was the most physical boy at preschool, so I don't think the other kids were too keen to argue with the princess!

He'll probably grow out of it - but if he doesn't, does that really matter? He is who he is!

Thank you all very much. These comments have really helped.