Toys with a Gender - Who Knew?


The above is a selection of toys that Turtle got for Christmas. For this of you who follow this blog, you know that Turtle is a girl. But looking at these toys many people would make the mistake of thinking Turtle was a boy.  Magformers, Dusty Crophopper, die-cast helicopters, model helicopters, F-22 fighter jet, and so on. She didn't get a single "girl" toy for Christmas much to her relief. We are fortunate to have thoughtful family and friends who recognize that getting her princesses, dolls, and dress up is a waste of money because she won't play with them. It doesn't make her less of a girl.

But I recently read a stream of comments on a friend's FB post about her son getting a pink stroller for his 2nd birthday. One of her friends was adamant that she was confusing her son and was sure to point out that he is not a girl. She even went on to say that she clearly needed to have a daughter to fulfill her fantasies of girl toys. I was disgusted with this person. TOYS ARE GENDER NEUTRAL. Boys and girls can play with whatever toys suit their fancy. My daughter's choice of planes, helicopters and building toys does not make her a boy, nor does it dictate her sexual orientation. And my friend getting her son a pink stroller does not dictate his sexual orientation. It merely demonstrates that kids love to push strollers no matter their gender.

You can't make someone gay anymore than you can make them straight. They either are or they aren't gay or straight. I'm personally disgusted that anyone would prevent a child from  getting a toy that they truly enjoy just because it's not a "boy" toy or a "girl" toy. We must allow children to grow in the ways that interest that child. Pushing a stroller or building a tower or playing with a doll or flying an airplane are acceptable activities for ALL children. Please stop forcing square pegs into round holes and let children be who they want to be. They will grow up healthier, with more confidence in who they are, and will inevitably have more compassion for their fellow human being.

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