[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by Leigh131313

Oh, that's one thing that is a must for every kid.....a doll stroller. I have yet to meet a kid who didn't love them - even if it is just to cart around their other toys.

We have lots of dolls (Hanna & M-K love them). "Brandon" loves the doll stroller and he always has a purse over his arm! He doesn't seem attached to the actual dolls, though.

[SupaModel]

Originally Posted by OakShannon

Some of my boys LOVED putting on the dresses and playing with the dolls.

That's where I draw the line. Playing with dolls is one thing but I would never put on or allow anyone to put my son in a dress. Sorry... that's just not gonna happen.

[aclee]

Originally Posted by SupaModel

That's where I draw the line. Playing with dolls is one thing but I would never put on or allow anyone to put my son in a dress. Sorry... that's just not gonna happen.

What if he was playing dress up and picked it for himself?

In that case, I'd let it go. I wouldn't want to teach him that when playing, there were certain things that were wrong.

Dress him in a dress myself...no. I did put a barrette in his hair once, and it was funny, but it was more about him having SO much hair, than about making him girlish (he was still wicked cute with the barrette in!)

[Betelnut]

Originally Posted by SupaModel

That's where I draw the line. Playing with dolls is one thing but I would never put on or allow anyone to put my son in a dress. Sorry... that's just not gonna happen.

What if he wants to?

All this talk of "but he's a REAL BOY" is rather ridiculous. What else would he be? (Unless your child has ambiguous genitalia.)

Even gay men are "REAL BOYS"!

[aclee]

Originally Posted by Eponine

DS has a "Lots to Love" doll that my mom bought him. He's only 8 months so take that into consideration - but, he does like to play with it and well, chew on it mostly but that's what he does with everything.

The brand is a little controversial because it is a fat baby but they do have an array of skin tones/ethnic features available without over-stereotyping. They are also available as anatomically correct or not so if you're sensitive about that, keep in mind the correct ones are *ahem* very correct. At least the boy is, that's what DS has.

DS's doesn't have any clothes right now but if he decides it's his lovey that he has to take everywhere, we're going to have to invest in some doll clothes!

Why do they all look happy, but the CC one looks like it's screaming?


They are pretty cute

[SupaModel]

Originally Posted by Betelnut

What if he wants to?

All this talk of "but he's a REAL BOY" is rather ridiculous. What else would he be? (Unless your child has ambiguous genitalia.)

Even gay men are "REAL BOYS"!

Did say anything about a "Real Boy"?

[adoptnky]

My son loves his dolls. He has a Dora, Diego, Cinderella, and Ariel doll. He LOVES all of the Disney Princess, can name all of them, and has the set of "action figures."

He also loves to wear my shoes, has two purses, and his favorite color is pink.

DH and I are actually quite fine with it. It's what he likes. He even picked out princess bubble bath today at the store. I did draw the line at the Princess pjs he wanted to buy.

We decided that he's either going to be a very nurturing, sensitive guy who is going to make some girl a great boyfriend someday, or we are going to say that we knew at 18 months.

Kim

[OakShannon]

Maybe I wasn't clear. I never put them in dresses!! But I certainly wasn't going to limit the boys' choices in what they could wear in the dramatic play area while the girls got to dress in any of the costumes. And they are just costumes. I think we put a lot of baggage on certain gendered behavior and give it meaning that it absolutely does not have for the kids. These were 5-year-olds after all. Why shame them when they are just playing? A lot of boys like to dress up in mommy's clothes or wear purses or pretend to nurse a baby - and it doesn't mean a thing about their gender identity or sexual orientation. They are just imitating the most important person in their lives.

[BrockBaby]

I own two daycares....we have all kinds of toys for everyone to choose from. We do not limit axcess to anyone based on their gender. EVERYONE plays with EVERYTHING. It's fun to watch. We have groups that play house...with a mommy, daddy, brothers and sister and babies. The daddy often has to watch the babies while the mommy goes shopping!! LOL gotta love that. We have dress up clothes. The boys like to put on the wedding gown...it's fun, it's different, they are getting to be something different. A three year old girl is not a bride...so should we take the bride gown out, because I'd hate to promote child brides?! No..that would be rediculous to think. It's just something they can explore with..use their imagination... I had one little boy that LOVED wearing high heel play shoe things. He also would notice when I got my hair done, or would tell me he liked an outfit I was wearing. We would laugh amongst ourselves saying he was the next host of "What Not To Wear". I see no reasons for limiting children's expressions based on what we think is boy or girl this or that.
Those who worry if their kids aren't going to be "girly" or "boyish" enough...forbidding them to play with certain toys will not change who they are. I am as girly as can be...but I loved climbing trees, getting into the creeks.playing WWF wrestling with my cousin (I was Mrs. Hulk Hogan..LOL) Doing those things did not change my "girly girl" ways. It's called being balanced!!!

[makarios79]

The only dolls my boys can play with are "baby dolls" as in dolls that look like babies/toddlers/little kids or some kind of action figure or one that is teaching them something like how to zip, button, tie shoes, etc....

NO Barbies, NO Brats...NO other doll that looks like a teen or grown woman....I don't see how playing with these kinds of dolls can teach them anything about being a loving father. (But that is just my opinion) Besides they would just rip the head off the poor doll anyway

I also don't allow my sons walk around with purses or in dresses or with makeup or girl's jewelry or hairbows...

I know that my stance isn't popular or "politically correct".... and I might get flamed..but oh well...It just isn't gonna happen in my house....

[aclee]

I don't think for little boys wearing high heels and putting on dresses is really about being a "girl"...I think it's like another poster said, it's about the clacking of the heels on the floor, or trying to balance, and it's about wearing the shiniest or brightest thing in the dress up bag. You have to admit, WE all realize that girls clothes are way cuter and more fun...why do we believe that little boys can't see that too? I think it's about having fun, not emulating a female for them.

Even if it is? WHO CARES? Do you think you are going to protect them from something? Somehow if you don't let them around dresses or high heels they will be more masculine? Sorry but there is plenty of research to indicate that nuture effects a lot of things, but nature (like sexual orientation) isn't one of them...

To me, I just don't get...would you not let a girl play certain sports if it wasn't girly enough? Would you not let a boy do gymnastics or tumbling if that interested him? One thing that really gets me going is people trying to mold children by directing their play in a strict way. Maybe someone that wouldn't allow their child to wear a dress while playing could explain to me what positive influence they are hoping to have on their son's life by doing that? Honestly, I don't get it.

[Kat-L]

Originally Posted by OakShannon

Maybe I wasn't clear. I never put them in dresses!! But I certainly wasn't going to limit the boys' choices in what they could wear in the dramatic play area while the girls got to dress in any of the costumes. And they are just costumes. I think we put a lot of baggage on certain gendered behavior and give it meaning that it absolutely does not have for the kids. These were 5-year-olds after all. Why shame them when they are just playing? A lot of boys like to dress up in mommy's clothes or wear purses or pretend to nurse a baby - and it doesn't mean a thing about their gender identity or sexual orientation. They are just imitating the most important person in their lives.

AGREE!
Also, allowing a son to wear a princess "dress up costume", wear lipstick, carry a purse or wear high heel shoes while he's playing will NOT make him gay. Allowing him to play with dolls will NOT make him gay. Just like making a little boy play with trucks and cars will NOT make him straight.

[aclee]

Originally Posted by makarios79

NO Barbies, NO Brats...NO other doll that looks like a teen or grown woman....I don't see how playing with these kinds of dolls can teach them anything about being a loving father. (But that is just my opinion) Besides they would just rip the head off the poor doll anyway

Role playing with dolls does much more than teach children about how to be a good parent. It teaches them how to be a good PERSON...father, husband, brother, friend. I've seen them practice how to deal with peer pressure using Barbies. I've seen them practice how to ask another kid to play with them, and what would happen if that kid said no. They learn a lot through play...

[makarios79]

Originally Posted by aclee

I don't think for little boys wearing high heels and putting on dresses is really about being a "girl"...I think it's like another poster said, it's about the clacking of the heels on the floor, or trying to balance, and it's about wearing the shiniest or brightest thing in the dress up bag. You have to admit, WE all realize that girls clothes are way cuter and more fun...why do we believe that little boys can't see that too? I think it's about having fun, not emulating a female for them.

Even if it is? WHO CARES? Do you think you are going to protect them from something? Somehow if you don't let them around dresses or high heels they will be more masculine? Sorry but there is plenty of research to indicate that nuture effects a lot of things, but nature (like sexual orientation) isn't one of them...

To me, I just don't get...would you not let a girl play certain sports if it wasn't girly enough? Would you not let a boy do gymnastics or tumbling if that interested him? One thing that really gets me going is people trying to mold children by directing their play in a strict way. Maybe someone that wouldn't allow their child to wear a dress while playing could explain to me what positive influence they are hoping to have on their son's life by doing that? Honestly, I don't get it.

Just like my parents told me when I was in their house, you can do whatever you want to when you leave.... But as long as it's my house, it's my rules...simple as that

I'm not trying to protect them from becoming anything....after all (according to popular thinking anyway)..you are going to be who you are anyway RIGHT?!?!?

The majority of the toys in my house are what you would consider "boy toys" and the only "girl toys" are those of my niece and my boys aren't allowed to play with any of her stuff regardless of what it is, just for the simple fact that they are not all that gentle with handling and often break her things.

If you want to, good for you....i think everyone should be free to raise their children how they want to, as long as they aren't abusing them. But it doesn't mean I have to or that my children are any worst or better off..it's just the way it is in my house simply put....

[Vogi2002]

Yeah...uhhh...we won't be buying anything for our boys in way of dolls, etc. But if he plays with them at the babysitters I don't care, or at a little girl's house.

No dresses though, unless he is playing dress up...even then I don't think I will allow it, still on the fence. But then again, if that is the only thing that makes him happy...well...maybe.

I don't think it's wrong to allow or disallow it. Of course, so far my boys are pure boys. No dolls, just dirt, if you give them a doll they will throw it across the room. Though they do love those strollers....