The healthy growth of children is the wish of every parent. Healthy growth means not only physical health, but also children’s mental health.
Children’s cognition of gender is similar to the development of physical functions, and there is a critical period. During this period, if children’s cognition of their own gender is disturbed, it is easy to lead to their gender problems. Therefore, parents should follow certain rules in their daily upbringing.
Don’t confuse children’s gender dress
Some parents may wear skirts and braids for boys out of playfulness, or dress girls as “tomboys” and let children wear neutral clothes. These behaviors may cause children to confuse or even disagree with their gender.
Before the child is 3 years old, parents should pay attention to cultivating the child’s gender awareness, and do not cross gender educate the child. Your inadvertent behavior may affect the child’s gender awareness.
Do not confuse children’s gender cognition
Some parents will dress boys and tell their children that “you have become a girl”, which may lead to confusion in their gender cognition and start to be uncertain whether they are “a girl or a boy”.
Children trust their parents very much. In the critical period when children have gender identity, parents’ jokes like this will affect children’s judgment of their own gender. Parents should accurately tell their children their (her) gender, help them recognize themselves and identify with themselves, and promote their mental health development.
Guide children’s hobbies
Girls like to play with dolls and boys like toy cars. This hobby is influenced by parents’ behavior to a certain extent. Parents should not think that “boys must be like boys, and girls must be like girls”. It is most important for children to recognize and accept their gender.
If it is found that children like toys of the opposite sex, they can be properly guided to divert their attention and help them choose toys suitable for their gender.
Don’t exaggerate the shortcomings of the opposite sex
Parents’ preference for gender will affect children’s identification with their own gender. For example, the mother likes the beauty and thoughtfulness of girls and often says to her son, “you are my mother’s little cotton padded jacket!”
In the long run, children will have an inferiority complex about their gender, and then they will be dissatisfied with their gender and eager to become the opposite sex. Under the psychological hint of parents, it is difficult for children to form a natural view of gender, and their mental health will be affected.
Do not belittle the opposite sex
Some parents will belittle the opposite sex in order to let their children accept their own gender.
For example, if a boy asks “why girls don’t have chickens”, and a parent answers “because girls are not good, there are no chickens”. It may give boys a sense of gender superiority, discriminate against girls, and lead to “male chauvinism” and disrespect for women in the future.
Set a sexual example for children
Parents are the best role models for children. If mothers spend more time with girls and fathers spend more time with boys, children’s gender awareness can be better cultivated.
In getting along, parents can show their gender advantages and personality charm more, such as the gentleness and carefulness of mothers and the diligence and courage of fathers, which will unconsciously affect children and make them establish positive and correct cognition of their gender roles.
In short:
On the issue of children’s gender education, we should proceed step by step, not be too hasty, nor should we let it go.
