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Behaviour/development

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

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Original poster

The difference betweens boys and girls..................

17 replies

Northerner · 07/10/2004 15:12

As I have a neice the same age as my ds (2.5) the differences amaze me, things such as:

she chooses what to wear each day - ds does not care, and never comments/complains how I dress him

She sits perfectly still whilst getting dressed, and even helps by putting her arms in atc - with ds it's like dressing a wriggley octopus (if you can catch him first)

If told off she strops and sulks for AGES - ds forgets it istantly

Feel free to add more!

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duster · 07/10/2004 15:18

My ds2 sounds very like your neice, especially the sulking part. He's aged 8 - should I be worried?!

KateandtheGirls · 07/10/2004 15:19

As was covered on a recent thread it's boys who tend to play more aggresively, pretending to shoot etc.

Hulababy · 07/10/2004 15:19

My DD (same age as your DS) is completely different to our friend's DS (age 3). It is so funny really as they boh have become very girly (DD) and very boyish (friend's DS).

DD is very independent, wants to make decsions, do her thing. Friend's DS isn't so bothered and will go with the flow.

Both are very loving and cuddly.

DD will have temper tantrums and take herself off to her room in a strop. But cmes round shortly. Friend's DS gets very whiney.

DD is into dolls, kitchens, dressing up, playing house, Happy Land type toys. Friend's DS is into fixing things and seeing what things do. He is obsessed by cars and keys.

DD is more confident on rides, playground stuff than friend's DS though/ Maybe to do with her going to Tumble Tots from being very young though???

DD adores pinks and lilacs. Friend's DS only wans blues and greens.

DD loves playing with other children, both older and younger. particularly, with her girl friends she chatters away, and actually interacts fully in games with the other child. Friend's DS will play along side other children and talks to them, but I wouldn't say he actually interacts as fully IYKWIM.

DD loves singing and dancing (and talking non stop) to anyone, or anything. Friends DS, whilst talks very well, is much quieter. He prefers examining things himself to chatting about them.

The colour and toy think is interesting as both have had access to all manner of toys in their on home, friend's homes and at nurseries. Yet their toys/games of preference are very gender specific.

JoolsToo · 07/10/2004 15:23

I had 1 dd and 2 ds's each played with each others toys - no gender barriers there! and each had their own different personalities - thank goodness and I wouldn't like to say it had anything to do with being male or female. However I would say - and this is only from my experience and from people I know - that girls tend to be more independent and self sufficient.

sandyballs · 07/10/2004 15:25

From observing our little ante-natal group, (3 girls, 3 boys aged 3.5ish), the girls seem much more "independent", wanting to do things for themselves, whereas the boys are still very happy for mummy to do everything for them!

Hulababy · 07/10/2004 15:26

Maybe that's boys all over though. How many DH/Ps here prefer mummy (or wife/girlfriend evn) to do things for them?

JoolsToo · 07/10/2004 15:26

hulababy - oh don't lets get started on THAT one !

dogbreath · 07/10/2004 15:31

my son is feircely independant

steppemum · 07/10/2004 15:42

sorry not to follow the stereotype, but my ds is also very independent, and doesn't want me to do it at all unless he has tried everything he can to do it himself.

He also is very co-operative on the dressing front and likes to try and help.

One of his favourite toys is a doll's buggy, with soft toy in the seat (however, that may well be to do with the wheels)

He does however love anything mechanical/wheels/keys/buttons.

He's very, very verbal, and very cuddly.

he is 22 months

I think there are some interesting "trends" that you do find gender wise, but I think so much is due to personality and the experiences they face. I also think sometimes we are responsible for some of it. When he was a baby I found myself looking at "boys toys" in the shops and then had to remind myself that if he was a she I would have been very keen to make sure she didn't suffer gender stereotyping (bit of a feminist streak in me) but because he was a he, I hadn't thought about it. Which is why when he seemd to love the doll's buggy I didn't hesitate to buy one, but I must confess I went all round the market until I found one that wasn't pink or covered in love hearts!!!!

blossomhill · 07/10/2004 15:44

Talking to friends and from personal experience I would say that boys are so much easier in lots of ways. If I had another child I would pray for another boy lol !!!!! No I am not having anymore but love dd loads all the same!!!!

Original poster

Northerner · 07/10/2004 15:50

Steppemum my ds loves his buggy too - though he hates anyhing sitting in it. Must admit to going out of my way to fine a navy blue one for him.

OP posts:

dibooth · 07/10/2004 21:06

My ds is younger than dd (14 months) - they're about the same size, but he knocks the stuffing out of her all the time.

DD likes to pretend play and always involves her baby bruv, they're always looking out for each other! I think it's just sibling rivalry, but I do hope ds will grow out of it soon! ds is 2 so he may not know what he's doing, although he knows when he does things by accident!

She helps to dress herself, he doesn't.

He kicks and thros thigns iof he doesn't get his own way but6 accepts punishment fine. She goes huffy and cries if she has to stand by the front door for being naughty!

Other than that, he is dead tidy and likes to help mum and dad, she wants to do her own thing and hates tidying up!

Def big diff between our two and I think it's due to their diff sex espa s main dioff is level of agression! But then ds is know to put m shoes on adn walk through the house in them

Skate · 07/10/2004 21:29

Observing antenatal group friends (kids now 3.5) where there is a mix of girls and boys - the key difference is in how they play. The girls, on the whole, are much quieter and play quiet games while the boys definitely stand out as being more boisterous, racing round and noisy. There are exceptions with a couple of the girls joining in with this, while the other girls look at the boys as if they are deliquents!!!

Toys-wise, all the boys do like the trains and cars but a couple of the girls will play with these too. All the kids, boys or girls, like the pushchairs but the boys are not into putting dolls or teddies in like the girls are - they just want to race round with them!

polly28 · 07/10/2004 23:39

I definately notice that boys like to take use more space when playing and don't like being hemmed in.PLaying in the garden is a godsend for my ds(2),mydd and other girls ds's age aren't really bothered and will happily play in obe area for ages.

Perhaps it has to do with his short attention span.

I find boys much more physical at this age(toddler) than I remember my daughter being.

eemie · 08/10/2004 15:01

My daughter's not yet six and the other day when she used the last bit of loo paper she put a fresh roll in the holder without asking or commenting. (I have never told her to do this, she just noticed that that's what I do).

My dh is not yet 49 but still can't manage it.

JoolsToo · 08/10/2004 15:03

eemie
a friend a work told me this story - her friend was getting divorce and one of the 'unreasonable behaviour' things was that he put the loo roll on the the holder the wrong way round! she said he did it on purpose to annoy her !

tallulah · 08/10/2004 17:14

I didn't notice any definite gender differences in my kids (DD & 3DSs) until they went to playgroup. They learned from all the other kids what boys are like & what girls are like. I don't know if things have moved on, but when DD (18) was pre school, all the other mummies had definite ideas on what girls were like & what boys were like & brought their own children up accordingly.

I had 2 wild, tantruming boisterous kids (DD & Ds2) & 2 gentle, quiet happy to sit on mummys lap kids (DS1 & 3).

As they've reached their teens there is a marked difference & my DD has been more hard work than the 3 DSs put together!

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