should my son play with dolls?

[mikeonabike]

hi guys, the wife recently suggested buying our son a doll, and thinks until he can make his own decisions about what to play with, we shouldn't consider gender when buying them, any thoughts on this?

cheers, mike.

Either because it is of vital importance we strengthen and enforce gender stereotypes from a young age and looking after children is wimmin's work so imaginitive play reflecting that is for girls only, or you're right NapQueen, and our assumption that cheers mike is nervous about his wife's toy choices are hilariously true.

It's Mrs cheers mike I feel sorry for.

.

I grew up with Action Man as a kid in the 70s and 80s, (gave my mum a heart attack once by throwing him out of our top floor window with his parachute attached), I turned out be a wimpy metropolitan liberal male who likes to watch feminist comedy on TV and hates football. Make of that what you will.

You want to buy him a doll?
Isnt that stereo-gendering or whatever dreadful phrase is 'in' at the moment. Take him fishing, camping. Buy him a survival axe and go for walks - all of which will help him. As for dolls, if he wants want dont complain if he wants a dress dont complain none of these should be bought for him in my opinion. Incedentally I did all the same for my daughter and taught her how to make throwing arrows - she still does.

I don't agree with raising children ad gender neutral.

Toys don't have or indicate a gender. They are just toys.

We are about to buy my son a dolly as he keeps nicking his big sisters. He likes using the buggy to push his train/car/dinosaur/bit of cheese around it.

My son likes to dress up in his older sisters dressing up shoes and click clack around the house. The only issue I had with this was that he could walk in heels better than me at age 2.5
He will also play dollies with his sister and push the pram around if he wants to transport his Blaze and the Monster Machine toys around.
My daughter plays with cars, she likes getting dirty and picking up bugs. She also insists on wearing a dress every day.
If my son wanted his own doll for Christmas or his own high heels for his birthday then that's what he'd get.

Of course.

You shouldn't force him to play with dolls out of a desire to appear cool with gender stuff. But definitely you should give him the option to choose by having it available along with his other toys.

I think toys do carry certain gender tendencies. Personally in this situation I would set the little boy up for a play date with another boy his age so he can play with him and his boy toys.

No! He mustn’t play with dolls as he will catch the gay.
Give him a gun instead.

Since this thread was started in May it's probably a moot point by now.

My absolute favourite! I am also thrilled that dolls and buggies now come in blue- it’s my fave.

My son had a doll and a pram after his brother was born. He also has a scarf that I had made into a sling. He saw us looking after the baby and wanted to do the same. It’s only a doll

Be careful. He might catch the gay

I think toys do carry certain gender tendencies. Personally in this situation I would set the little boy up for a play date with another boy his age so he can play with him and his boy toys

Who says he doesn’t have play dates with other boys? And also play with ‘boy toys’ (whatever they are)?

You mean a regular kids doll, right? You know that dolls aren’t all blow up sex toys? Definitely do not get him one of those.

My son asked for a particular popular doll when he was 5. Played with her a lot, had lots of ‘accessories’ ( pony, sledge etc).

Was just a normal toy alongside his other toys.

What is your issue?

No!! Boys with DOLLS?!

I cannot believe anyone would suggest giving a CHILD a doll?! What’s NEXT?!

My ds's have played with dolls, dressed in mine and their sisters clothes, and my dd's have played with cars and toy tool sets. My youngest ds wanted his own doll when I was buying his twin sister one.
I think it's great that boys play with dolls, it prepares them for being dads themselves.

Why would it be a problem?
DC1 had a baby boy doll when dc2 was born. Loved it dearly and looked after it by copying whatever I was doing with dc2 at the time -when dc2 fed, so did the doll, dc2had a cuddle? So did the doll. If dc2 slept, the doll went into its 'cot'
DC2 wanted a doll and got one at about two or three years old. Along with a pushchair, bed etc.
Both DCs somehow managed to grow into strong, amazing adults . Dc2 is also the most amazing, hands on dad to his baby son - shares all the work of looking after a newborn. Insure that when dgs is old enough for toys, a doll will find its way into his collection.

NamelessInSeattle beat me to it...

I was thinking about getting my son (11 months) a doll for Christmas because during the year he’ll grow up enough to play with it. Its nice to teach kids some responsibility and they like dressing them up and changing nappies etc.

Why not?? My son loves playing with dolls (and cars and Lego) I don't see the problem. Let him play with whatever he wants. I think it's just you overthinking this.