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Original poster

girls toys for boys

18 replies

breeze · 05/01/2003 17:43

for my sons birthday i bought him a kids dyson hoover and cleaning trolley, much to my DH horror, he thinks that these are GIRLS TOYS and that it will have some kind of life altering affect on him, i see it as something that he enjoys doing and if i can train him well, it will save me the trouble of doing housework, he plays with it just as much as he plays with his cars. I don't see it as a problem. any further views would be appreciated.

OP posts:
Nutjob · 05/01/2003 17:51

My ds has a play oven with plates, saucepans, plastic food etc., and a hoover which he plays with a lot, equally he plays with his cars, Action Man and trains. I don't see any problem in letting them play with so called 'girl's' toys if they enjoy it. There's never a fuss if it's the other way round and girls play with 'boy's' stuff!!

Original poster
breeze · 05/01/2003 17:59

i think he gets a big embarrased when his mates come round and he wizzes past with a cleaning trolley and starts dusting (not macho enough for him) oh well it makes me chuckle anyway

OP posts:
AnnieG · 05/01/2003 18:54

I have always bought "girls" toys for my sons as well as "boys" toys-kitchens, cleaning things,dolls(and prams)-even a dolls house.In these days when chores are supposed(!)to be shared equally it seems strange that boys are not "supposed" to play with role play toys associated with these tasks!

kkgirl · 05/01/2003 19:03

my youngest ds (has twin sister) is really sexist, but we haven't brought him up that way, he just has it in him since very young. But I can remember him on Christmas Day when he was very small (2 1/2 if I remember) wearing a three piece suit and high heeled plastic play shoes, and for ages he wanted to wear his sisters lime green mini skirt. I wasn't too sure about this because he was due to go to school before too long and didn't want him to get teased but didn't want to discourage him. I think that these stereotyped boys toys and girls toys are outdated now so many men have to help with housework and trad. womens' work. Does you dh hoover and clean at all?

Original poster
breeze · 05/01/2003 19:11

kkgirl, that is the weirdest thing, my dh is much more tody then me and does all the washing up and on his days off he will tidy the house (well put everything in the nearest cupboard/draw etc). so i am not too sure why he has these views.

OP posts:
Demented · 05/01/2003 20:59

My DS1 has a hoover and a kitchen, both of which he loves, he also has a boy doll which doesn't receive quite as much attention. He was asking for a dolls house but as he is four this month I decided not to go for this as he is getting older and he will start to realise that these are stereotypically girl's toys and probably not want to play with them. He also plays with loads of cars, action man (minus guns) etc. I don't think it's a problem but now that he is older I just want to spend my money on something I think he will play with for a few years to come.

GillW · 06/01/2003 13:20

One of DS's current favourites is his toy vacuum cleaner - much to DH's surprise as he was distinctly unimpressed when I bought it. And if we're out/visiting friends/at nursery and he has the chance he loves toy kitchens too. But then in our house DH does vacuum and cook, so he's only copying daddy. I don't see any reason to discourage it (though I might later if he started showing a penchant for dresses and high heels!) - one day someone will love him for knowing how to cook and clean.

susanmt · 06/01/2003 13:26

My 11 month old ds is sitting at my feet right now cuddling 2 rag dolls and a barbie. Dd is always 'sharing' her dollies with him. I think it is great!

aloha · 06/01/2003 13:27

So cleaning and hoovering is woman's work is it? Er, why do breasts and a womb make it easier to maneovre a vacuum cleaner? I just bought my ds a toy dustpan and brush set in the local pound shop. I just don't see cooking and cleaning as essentially feminine - this is the 21st Century not the 1950s. Anyway, my ds is more likely to see his dad cooking than doing DIY or washing the car. A LOT more likely, in fact. Good job nobody told Jamie Oliver that cooking was for girls, eh? Your dh is clearly worried that contact with a toy vaccuum cleaner will make him homosexual. Personally, I would say this was a most unlikely prospect!

Lindy · 06/01/2003 17:20

MY DS 'plays' with the real dustpan & brush, hopefully he'll be using it properly soon and therefore saving me money buying toys and time doing housework!! He also likes the feather duster!

KMG · 06/01/2003 19:55

I have two boys, so we made sure they had toys such as iron and ironing board, cooker, cot, dolls, pushchair, etc., and they enjoyed playing with them. Must admit they are mostly not interested now (3.5 and 5.5), and just want to play war games ...! So not sure it had any positive or detrimental effect on them... They do still play with tea-set and play food a lot, and dressing-up clothes.

Though ds1 was delighted to find a pink handbag in his bed the other night, complete with Barbie pink nailvarnish, after a friend had been to play!

iota · 06/01/2003 22:00

DS1 (3.5) is completely sexist these days - I think he gets it from the older kids at nursery - if he's watching the ads he wants everything boy-orientated and rubbishes Barbie etc. I'm not really worried about role models however, as dh takes him on the Tesco run, cooks and hoovers.

titchy · 07/01/2003 11:14

2 year old ds looks and feels fantastic wearing his sister's pink fairy dresses, wings and bright pink Barbie slippers.

He loves pushing her dolls around in their pushchair too. Mind you he also likes running them over in his push along car....

Original poster
breeze · 07/01/2003 11:15

thanks you guys i certainly have enough to shut my husband up now, but kep them coming and i love making my point.

OP posts:
Bozza · 07/01/2003 11:23

My DH is a bit like this but I have brought him round to a toy hoover for DS's birthday because all DS's male friends have them and love them. I also bought him a teaset for Christmas - don't understand why this is a "girl's toy" anyway - most men eat, don't they? My DH hoovers more than I do. I had two sisters but we always had cars even guns (but thats a different issue...). But why are cars still a boys toy? - DS sees me driving as much as DH. DS loves pouring me a cup of tea, giving me a plate etc but I'm currently trying to get him to feed his Bob the Builder figure and also give Clifford the Dog a bowl to give me a break....

clary · 07/01/2003 17:03

I feel very very strongly about this. Have always bought DS "girls" stuff eg tea set, play food, cleaning equipment. DD's fave toys are the train set and the garage/any tractor type toy. They both also love the pushchair and play with the kitchen at anyone else's house (no room for it here alas). Also he just loves to help Mummy cook. And why not? DD (18mo) not really bothered about dolls tho no doubt that will come with peer pressure.

Bozza · 07/01/2003 21:04

Clary my DS loves cooking too. Is very put out if I get mixer out without standing him on a chair too. Yells "chair" and trys to drag it across kitchen.

Twink · 07/01/2003 22:06

Hmm, sometimes I really miss JBR

Would anyone have started the converse thread or is it just taken for granted that it's 'OK' the other way round ??

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