Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Original poster

When will ds2 grow out of his "pink phase"?

20 replies

Ladymuck · 26/09/2006 22:46

Ds1 was always boy - Thomas, fire engines, power rangers, space ships, science sets. Clear cut, and easy to please.

Ds2 - chose a Dora the Explorer Duvet when moving to a big bed; last year for Christmas wanted Baby Annabel and a doll's house; when given free choice in toy shop recently chose a Barbie, and is already asking for the Barbie campervan for Christmas. If given free choice will always opt for pink.

I can cope with him wearing my shoes and trying to use my make-up etc - but how long can this phase go on? I didn't mind having one "girlie" Christmas/birthday, but facing a second one seems a bit strange. We were looking at buying a bike, but he wanted a pink one with streamers...

He's 3.5.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
SoMuchToBits · 26/09/2006 22:48

Would you be worried if a dd wanted blue things, trains and footballs?

I don't see why it should be a problem, unless other kids tease him.

Saturn74 · 26/09/2006 22:50

DS1 chose a pink and purple colour scheme when we redecorated his bedroom when he was 6. He's 10 now, and definitely out of his pink and purple phase - his bedroom is now covered in manga posters, with dragon, wizard, gargoyle and skull ornaments, tubs of hair gel and a Metallica duvet cover.

I preferred the pink and purple really!

Original poster
Ladymuck · 26/09/2006 22:51

I have no problem with a balance - we've always had a mix of toys as many of my friends have dds, so have a fairly wide range of stuff anyway. I guess that I'm surprised that it is so focussed in this way? It is almost as if he is looking for the opposite of ds1 at times.

OP posts:
Bluebear · 26/09/2006 22:56

ds was very pink orientated until quite recently ( only boy in ballet classes, asked for dolls house for last christmas and loves pink on anything).
He realised when he was about 4 that wearing pink clothes wasn't something that 'boys did' (although he was a bit mournful about it) and at 5 he only shows an interest in pink things at home - he is very 'boyish' at school.
On the other hand, dd is a total Thomas tank engine/Spiderman fan, and I am trying to talk her into a new pink duvet to replace spiderman since I would like her to have a girly pink room.

foundintranslation · 26/09/2006 22:56

being different from ds1 might be part of it. Or it might just be his tastes. When he starts school it will probably change due to peer pressure (quite in a way).

Original poster
Ladymuck · 26/09/2006 23:03

I suspect that the school issue is part of it - Ds1 is at a boys school, which is just right for him. Ds2 claims that he wants to go there (but lets face it, he is only 3.5), but I'm now wondering whether to start looking at a mixed school for him! Probably an over-reaction, though we've always maintained that we'd try to get the best school for each of them (to the best of our knowledge/opinion anyway). I've always assumed that this current dedication is just a phase, but I don't want it to get squashed too much...

Perhaps I'm just thinking too deeply about it!

OP posts:
dizzymeg · 27/09/2006 15:35

According to my 17 year old DSS pink is in fashion ! He chooses to wear his ex girlfriend's pink watch and buys pink tops. So, don't worry, he'll soon come into contact with peer pressure and the pink phase may well disappear.

Spidermama · 27/09/2006 15:44

Hi LadyMuck,
My ds2 is four now and started school in September. He has always been into 'girlie' things and worn his sisters dresses in the house. He loves butterflies and pretty things and draws ladies in flowery dresses holding babies etc. He's so gorgeous and loving and seems to see beauty in everything. He even thought the frying sauasages sounded like birds singing the other day.

It is worrying. I love him for it and would have no concerns whatsoever except about the prejudice of others. The pressure at school to define yourself in one camp or the other is enormous and other kids can be cruel.

I've kept up a dialogue with him throughout. eg If he wants to wear a dress out shopping I say, 'You can but you might get teased. Some people think that only boys are allowed to wear dresses ... etc' He has always insisted he doesn't care and tbh he really is a confident kid (fingers crossed).

I find it so hard because I don't want to suggest that I agree with the predjudice or have even the slightest disapproval of the way he wants to be ... but I have to try to prepare him for the reactions of others. It's a balancing act. He seems fine so far but he did encounter some teasing even in playgroup.

My first ever thread on MN was about this subject. It was really long and raised strong opinions. I'll try and dig it out for you.

bundle · 27/09/2006 15:45

dd1 has just grown out of pink, she's 6

Spidermama · 27/09/2006 15:47

I've tried to find the thread but can't. I'm not sure if they get deleted after a certain length of time.

Anyway I do remember being quite shocked by some of the fear and outrage expressed by other parents about my ds wearing a dress. (He was 3 at the time fgs) and the thread had quite an impact on me.

My ds is now 4.5 and watching a musical on telly upstairs. I wouldn't change him for the world.

tiredemma · 27/09/2006 15:48

DS2 ( age 3 yrs) is just like this, he likes to put a pair of pyjama bottoms on his head, with the legs part hanging down his back as "hair" with a hair bobble in ( then will keep looking at himself in the mirror.

He loves blond dolls and carries one everywhere with him, loves pink, loves fairies, in fact loves anything girlie. He has recently told us that his name is Laura. worrying.

Spidermama · 27/09/2006 16:08

Here's my old thread but it's very long I'm afraid.
Here .

fairyjay · 27/09/2006 16:10

dizzymeg
my 14 yo ds tells me that real men wear pink!

lemonaid · 27/09/2006 16:11

Often (generally?) this is a stage they grow out of between 4 and 6. Not that it's a problem if they don't, of course.

Mercy · 27/09/2006 16:16

Spidermama, it's one of my favourite threads!

Spidermama · 27/09/2006 16:17

Mercy.

Peridot30 · 27/09/2006 16:49

I can always remember my cousin who is a boy loved girls toys so much that he asked santa for an "ariel mermaid" Santa delivered it and he was so happy. Now 13 and has definately grown out of it. Does regularly get slagged off from his 3 older cousins -all girls!

mumandlovingit · 27/09/2006 16:55

my ds who's just trned 4 loves pink and girls stuff.i think its because i havent got a girl and all the girls things are different to him.he's now got a pnk buggy that he pushes his teddy around in and is in his element when we visit friends houses that have got girls.he always tries to get pink petent shoes in clarks and looks most dissapointed when i point out that he needs the boys ones.i wouldnt worry too much, im not.he'll grow out of it.if anyone wants to judge i just point out that most men are wearing pink at the moment and its very in fashion so why shouldnt he like girls things too!

i always wanted cars etc as a child!

calebsmummy · 27/09/2006 22:07

Ds2 (aged 3.5) likes pink too. His favourite colour is pink and I don't see anything wrong with that at all! he doesn't wear pink, though with his very blonde, fairly long curly hair, he could pass as a girlie very easily! He likes dolls etc, but he also likes cars, motorbikes, tractors, pirates, castles etc.

I hope he keeps his individuality. He's great!!

DS1 (12) was definately a boys boy! And DS3 (21 months) is going to be the same, although he loves play kitchens and pushchairs so maybe.....

calebsmummy · 27/09/2006 22:09

And Spidermama, I love hearing about your DS. He sounds like a wonderful litte man

New posts on this thread. Refresh page