Gender appropriate toys?

[wannaBe1974]

Last night I was talking to a friend who I haven't seen since before christmas. She was tellin me about the presents her DD had got and was saying that her mum had bought her a garage with lots of cars as her DD loves cars. She then said that her grandfather had gone absolutely belistic at her mother for buying a "boy's toy for a girl!" It made me smile somewhat as I remember well that when I was a child and not into dolls I played with scalectrics and trains and cars, my DS, although totally into cars and trains also has a kitchen and lots of play food. So, do you buy gender specific toys? and if so would you draw a line at anything?

Think if I had a daughter I would allow anything, but think I'd be a bit uncomfortable if DS asked for a barby doll, lol.

nope, we don't buy gender specific toys. that said, ds is only 11 months!

however he does have a doll, after forming a rather strong attachment to the one i bought someone as a present! lol

when he's older i have no problem with him having kitchens, dolls (even barbie!) ot anything

Doesnt bother me what DS plays with. I had to bite my tongue over christmas when my grandad was getting huffy over my suggestion that they bought DS a doll.

I buy girly things for dd1 as those are the things she makes a beeline for - dolls, shopping trolleys, anything pink. But I wouldn't be bothered if she was bought a garage, if the cars were pink, she would be interested.

My ds loves barbie dolls and any dolls. He's a clothes fanatic and has such style. I love him for it, but I know he's going to get teased.
He also love butterflies, flowers, princesses etc. He'll start school in September. (gulp!)

I tend to buy them things they would be interested in tbh, DS2 has had Barbies bought for him, between him and DS1 they had a kitchen, a dolls house, buggy and a baby doll. Nowdays I don't tend to bother buying them the 'girls' stuff they want as someones bound to buy it for DD and they can just play with it then! MIL got DD a baby Annabell for her 1st birthday, I knew she wouldn't be interested in it but I didn't argue with her about it (and we do argue over some of the ridiculous and impractical things she wants to get!) because I knew DS2 would love it.

I don't "do" gender-appropriate. DS1 has a washing machine (bought by SIL, over protests of MIL), which is immensely popular. He has a toy pram, which has been passed down to DS2 now, who uses it all the time. We have dolls, as well.

I probably wouldn't like them having a barbie, but I'd be more opposed to a daughter of mine (if I had one) having a barbie ...

I have a dd who is 4y8m and she has toy cranes, trains, cars, lego, and Meccano, all of which she adores. She also likes playing with a doll's house, dressing up and pink ... so a fair proportion of girlie things as well as the boy's toys.

My MIL is convinced that having a house full of "boy's" toys is going to turn dd gay though ...

Yes wwb, my grandad says DS is going to 'turn into a puff' because he has a doll.

NQC, I am proud to say the Inferiority Complex is a Barbie-free zone (although only because they play with them chez childminder - in fact I've realised DD2 calls any vaguely non-baby doll a 'Barbie' ).

I have now conceded to pink girliness, because they love it so, but they've got masses of stuff like bricks and trains too.

Madmarchhare, that attitude (particularly the boys + dolls = gay) cracks me up! Because, yeah, all the gay men I know have babies, push prams, etc etc. And the straight men never do!

MI, I'm not sure I'd ban barbies (that was my mom's solution, and it annoyed me at the time). But they are deeply creepy.

I don't ban them (and I got them Polly Pockets for Christmas) but I don't buy them either.

what is wrong with Barbies?

Ooh, they're a bit, you know, high heels and pointy norks and generally not quite exactly realistic.

Agree with Serenity - this is a non-issue when you have boys and girls. at your grandad marchhare.

Agree with Serenity - this is a non-issue when you have boys and girls. at your grandad marchhare.

I know, its hilarious isnt it? It was all I could do not to explode when he said it.

I have previously tried to explain that I dont want DS to grow up thinking boys do one thing and girls do another and that this is part of the way I will try and teach him, but, he (grandad) didnt even grasp why I would want to do that in the first place let alone how. Gah.

Ds used to have a doll that he looked after when he was about 2-3 ish... He was really sweet with it! But it has all gone out of the window now that he is 5 and in school!

He wouldnt even go near anything remotely girly now... It all started to go downhill when he started nursery and discovered power rangers to my great disgust... But hey go with the flow!

We have a load of Barbies given to dd by a friend. DS is probably fonder of playing with them than my dd.

My legs are exactly like Barbie's

I have just remembered! Dd1 got a microwave for Christmas (pink) and on it....it says.....FOR GIRLS ONLY!

In swirling pink italics.

I ask you!

What?, doesnt everyone have pointy norks?

and a one inch waist?

I'm a lot more chilled about Barbies than I was, I have to say. And manage not to shudder at DD1's pastel pink trainers

I do pity my daughters, you know

and teeny tinsy weeny feet that cant take your weight so you have to sit down all the time.

I have size 3 feet. And my norks are quite pointily upholstered....