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

[JingleyJen]

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.

I think this thing is a lot more common than people realise tbh. It just that as the children grow up it isn't neccessarily something they are going to tell everyone about. IME most children like this will get some sort of stick for it at some point - anyone who carries on being true to themselves despite all that has got to be a well rounded, strong person.

Also my dad had a dolly and pram, surely a shock in a mining village in the 1950's. He couldn't be more hetrosexual.

I liked boy's clothes, hated dresses, summer was miserable because I was forced to wear dresses and sandals.
I loved sports, was very athletic.
Now, I am not exactly girly, but definately not blokish.
I still don't like skirts, prefer jeans and still hate sandals in summer.

My friend's neighbour's child made herself a paper penis when she was 4.

yes gender issues can start this young although it can just as easily be a phase of experimentation

in either case the best thing to do is not make a big fuss and go along with the child's wishes - if you are TRYING to cause a lifelong issue this is more likely to happen by denying the child and making a huge deal of it

it does make people feel uncomfortable though, doesnt it?

F&Z I think it was the insistance on boys pants that made me feel she has 2 older sisters so that possibly is pushing her away from girlie things!!!!

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no I would feel the same
but what can her parents do? either it is just a phase in which case best ignored until it goes away
or the little girl DOES have some gender issues in which case forcing her to wear girl's clothes could IMO be quite harmful

having said that ds always wanted 'princess' pants and I fudged the issue - bought him nice smart new boys pants which he liked
he also says he wants a vulva - haven't really gone into that one too deeply

So far this week DS (3.5) has been David, Carrie, Stephanie, Pingu, Andy, Mr Maker, Woody, Buzz....

I have been David, Harry (DSs name!), Mr Maker and Pingu.

This girl sounds normal to me

theres agirl in dd class-8 who would rather be a boy.shes happy and healthy sos everyone around her.what will be will be.

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myds1 used to be libby,saffron,peter pan,alfie and kitty.

Parents are just going with the flow..

she goes into the childrens sections of clothes shops and lets her daughter choose her own clothes, she always heads for the boys stuff and insists on boys pants.

She is just hoping that one shopping trip the boys stuff won't be the direction she heads.

nope he said vulva
he wants to wee sitting down apparently
I wish he would, his aim might be better

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I tried to wee standing up when I was 3. Didn't work out well!

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Knew a girl who did this in my class at school many years ago. Even got the teachers to call her by a boys name. I have no idea what motivated it, I think she was not very happy being who she was and her parents were having another child - this made her stand out. She was a nice girl and the boy thing stopped the minute she went to secondary school and she grew up as a fairly "ordinary" person.

saw a bit about gender identity in children on oprah, can't remember much about it but it did say that some people who change their gender later in life knew from as young as two that they wanted to be the other gender, and studies have shown that the best thing to do for happiness of children is just to go with the flow and let them dress as they please, not make an issue of it. obviously not all kids who dress like the opposite sex then become adult transsexuals tho.

Oh I wanted to be a boy, and refused to wear dresses or anything. I was quite determined about it. I thought girls stuff was embarrassing, especially dresses.

I don't think anyone minded. I just wore my brother's hand me down clothes.

This probably carried on until about 17.

TheAntiFlounce pmsl- a paper penis!
I wanted to be a boy til i was about 15, but didn't go that far
The thopught of being a girl horrified me- tights and make up were amongst my biggest terrors

I can wee standintg up#

Was that tmmi?

AntiFlounce. Respect!

I used to be a tomboy, dressed from Army surplus etc. My Dad was so relieved I was not "into" boys (I hated them) that he gladly stumped up for all the army gear.
I grew out of that one and am happily married (I found one boy I didn't hate) but I still don't really wear makeup and never ever managed the matching shoes and handbag thing.
We got married so we could put a matching towel set on the wedding list. Another complete failure on my part.
I don't get this "woman's touch" and "accessories" stuff.