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

little girl in DS1's class is determined she is a boy who wants to be called David

49 replies

JingleyJen · 24/03/2008 19:48

she will only wear boys clothes (including pants) and is horrified if anyone suggests she is a girl.

Now.. I am interested, her mum isn't concerned at all and I am not concerned, but I wondered if gender issues in later life can start as early as this? I understand that this is probably a phase and in a years time she will be a scarey pink spangley loving girl.. however it did spark the question in my head.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Original poster
JingleyJen · 24/03/2008 19:53

bump

OP posts:
yama · 24/03/2008 19:56

My two year old dd often says that she is a boy - usually a 'good boy'. I put it down to quite liking the boys at nursery.

CatIsSleepy · 24/03/2008 19:56

no idea about gender issues in later life, but she sounds alot like my niece! still in boys' clothes at 11, playing rugby, and a very happy confident girl.

myermay · 24/03/2008 19:58

Message withdrawn

CatIsSleepy · 24/03/2008 20:02

well my sister is not blokeish in the slightest....
tbh my niece was very determined from an extremely early age not to wear girls' clothes. There were some battles to begin with then I think my sister and her dh accepted that if they forced the issue their dd would be miserable. They opted to let her be herself.

yurt1 · 24/03/2008 20:05

There's a girl in ds2's class (year 1) who plays football (and scores all the goals according to ds2), refuses to wear dresses (except at school where she has to), plays with the boys, is the fastest in the class. I think she's really rather wonderful. Ds2 refuses to play with any girls except her (because 'she's not a girl she's a tomboy mummy')

Original poster
JingleyJen · 24/03/2008 20:06

I think not making an issue of it seems to be the way I would go as well .. I have just never experienced such a strong sense of gender so early (she is nearly 4)

OP posts:
yurt1 · 24/03/2008 20:07

My cousin was like that for ages btw - then suddenly turned very girly as she hit puberty. She's very glam now.

dinny · 24/03/2008 20:08

God, I was a real tomboy till about 8/9, wanted to be a boy etc etc. I'm not a transsexual.

Original poster
JingleyJen · 24/03/2008 20:09

thats exactly the reply I was looking for Dinny... did you want to actually be a boy?

OP posts:
dinny · 24/03/2008 20:13

only so far as I wanted to be BOYISH, I suppose - ie. be daring, not cry, not play with dolls or wear pink etc etc

didn't want to change who I was

I'm actually quite feminine these days (but definitely a tomboy still in spirit)

tensmum · 24/03/2008 20:14

My cousins daughter was like this from about 2, she got to FIFTEEN, found boys and started wearing pink, up until then it had been boys clothes all the way. Until she was 11 my cousin was fine, but after that she was a bit but never mentioned it to her daughter.

FluffyMummy123 · 24/03/2008 20:16

Message withdrawn

Troutpout · 24/03/2008 20:16

I wanted to be a boy untill i was about 12.
I blame it on too much Enid Blyton...the girls were such saps..always making tea and being sensible.

dinny · 24/03/2008 20:17

wow, was just about to post - "I just wanted to be like George from the Famous Five"

Original poster
JingleyJen · 24/03/2008 20:18

Cod,that explains quite alot

OP posts:
Troutpout · 24/03/2008 20:19

aah yes ...but George was only ' pretty spunky for a girl' dinny

woodenchair · 24/03/2008 20:21

My sister was the same. Aged 3 decided to be a boy and never grew out of it.

She tried liking boys in her teens, but grew out of that . I wasn't surprised when she called me in her late teens and told me she was gay.

BigBadMouse · 24/03/2008 20:21

Sounds just like me when I was little. I used to go to bed each night wishing I would wake up as a boy the next day. I was very often mistaken for a boy (until my boobs made an early appearance ) and I never corrected anyone who referred to me as a boy. I had my own, made up, boys name which I preferred to be called and I wore boys clothes (inc shoes) all the time (not pants though). I enjoyed the company of boys and didn't understand girls at all.

I guess I started to get less tomboyish as I got to be about 12-13. I had a great time, all the good looking boys were my best friends already and I was sorted for boyfriends for years to come

bethoo · 24/03/2008 20:32

there is a difference between a tomboy adn actually beleiviing they are a boy. so could go wither way, she could as she matures want to become feminine or actually suffer from gender confusion disorder. i guess only time will really tell.

bethoo · 24/03/2008 20:32

either not wither!

LarryVeest · 24/03/2008 20:35

PMSL at 'Jeff'

FluffyMummy123 · 24/03/2008 20:38

Message withdrawn

RahRahRachel · 24/03/2008 20:40

There was a little boy who lived down the road from me who decided he wanted to be a girl aged about 3/4 - wore girls clothes, called by a girls name, played with dolls etc. Now he's a big, strapping, rugby playing, beer drinking 20 year old ladies man!

Jane68 · 24/03/2008 20:41

Good for her, sounds like she is justshouldn't we just let them be whaere they are comfortable and not force them into gender roles.