Girls and Boys
Last week, Bean had a play date with a friend of ours from church. We sat out on our back porch and let the kids play until they were hot and sweaty and good and tired.
As we watched them play, I couldn’t help but notice the difference between how Bean played and how his little friend played. There were several differences, but the biggest I noticed was that she was so much gentler than Bean! I have heard that the difference between how boys and girls play is really prominent at this age, but I thought that was sort of silly. They’re all kids. How different could it be? How could gender influence much at this age anyway? But, apparently, I was wrong.
Next to his sweet, polite, quiet friend, Bean seemed like a tank. He was throwing things, pouring water on her, and pushing her in the little wagon they were riding in really hard. But it wasn’t like he was being aggressive. He was just a lot rougher.
But that is all the more reason why I’m glad we had a play date with his friend. It is good for Bean to see other children playing gently. It’s good practice for him. We say all the time at home, “Be gentle, Bean.” He hears it especially when he’s playing with Gracie. But it’s a different kind of learning when he can see other children actively doing something than just hearing us correct that behavior. That’s also why I’m glad I’ve got a son and a daughter now. Hopefully, these little traits in each gender will rub off on each other and bring out new and great qualities.
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12 Comments
Julie
When Connor was about two, we had a play date with another two year old girl. We had out a Little People dollhouse, and the little girl set up all the furniture and was calmly playing house with the little people, when Connor ran over and shook the house up, yelling, “Earthquake, Earthquake!”
That was my moment of enlightenment about the differences between how girls and boys play.
Mindee@ourfrontdoor.us
And playing with your adventurous boy will teach a more timid child the fun of risk taking. Isn’t it nice how the world works?
Bec
Cute! Can anyone say arranged marriage?!
Roseanne
I had a boy first then a daughter 3 years later. My daughter was able to burp and fart just like her brother by the time she was two. Also, she had to do everything her older brother did. He didn’t wear floaties in the pool, she wouldn’t either. She learned to swim before she was 2 1/2. Those cute little dresses I got for her came home so dirty and she couldn’t wear a pair of tights past one day without putting a hole in the knee. Be prepared…..Gracie has a good chance of being a tomboy.
Lindsay (Young Married Mom)
We’re starting to see some of this with our little man and the little girls he plays with. Jacob thinks he’s talking to them, but sometimes his growl makes them cry. Maybe I should stop calling him “Bear”?
Kat @ Living Like the Kings
I’ve heard the same thing about boys and girls at this age! I can’t wait to see/hear how different Gracie will be!
cheree
with everything, you have to remember that everyone is different. my niece is all girl, but she is very rough and tumble too. she is big for her age and tends to be rougher than most kids (boys or girls).
Jenna
I actually have a niece who recently became a big sister. She is very excitable (not aggressive) and I’ve noticed her parents have a great balance of praising her for all of her doting, but at the same time reminding her to be gentle. The other day they had to tell her that her new sister cannot have the same foods she eats because she does not have teeth. After careful consideration, she looked a bit distraught and said, “Elmo doesn’t have teeth. He can’t eat either?” The news crushed her 🙂
Waiting for Bulgaria
I never believed boys were rougher until I had one. It is amazing how much rougher he is than every girl we’ve come in contact with. Definitely must be a boy thing.
Jen at Cabin Fever
I know moms that have had twins, one of each gender, and they constantly have pointed out that the differences in genders are apparent from birth. That fascinates me. Cabin Fever in Vermont
Barbara Manatee
As a mom of Boy/Girl twins- I can completely attest that boys and girls are SO different! It is so interesting to sit back and think about how I’ve raised them pretty fairly and equally – not pushing gender stereotypes onto either child – yet they each are drawn to boy and girl things and behave very differently!
The two of them are very close and do just about everything together but they are still each so unique. My daughter is all girl (the only one in our family) – loves all things pink, is motherly, dances, loves to color, is quiet and emotional. Her brother is LOUD, rough and tumble, loves trains and playing outside, hates to sit unless its in front of a DVD and uses his hands more than his words.
Its awesome and fascinating!
Rebecca @ The Reluctant Housewife
Isn’t it crazy how, boy or girl, each kid is such an individual? My friend has 1 girl who is the sweetest kid that you’ll ever meet. Her second daughter beats up everybody she meets…not on purpose, she’s just incredibly tough and really likes to wrestle. I’ve heard that boys are a lot rougher, and I guess, to an extent I believe that. I see it a lot with the kids in the nursery at church. Although, this sunday one of the little boys asked me to dress him up like a princess. I guess, what I’m trying to say is that I absolutely believe there are MAJOR differences between the genders, but the scale is different for every kid. I’m definitely curious to see how this shapes up with Bean and Gracie.