Gender Neutral Toys: Examples & More. How Do These Empower Our Kids?

Toys And Gender Roles

Essentially, we as a society believe that our children learn their gender roles quite early, and they begin to learn those roles from the toys that they play with.

A gender role is the behavior a person learns is appropriate for their gender, as taught by their societal norms.

There’s a very real fear that if a boy is seen playing with a doll, or if a girl is taught to play football, they may, at minimum, be ostracized by their peers.

And an even worse fear that they may actually change their gender or their sexual preference as they grow.

Gender specific toys are, put simply, just toys. They do not have this power.

Gender Stereotypes In Toys

Gender stereotypes by toy manufacturers still continue, as of 2021, although they are less common than they were in the past.

Luckily, there’s a good bit of research being done into how to make good toys that interest all children, instead of just how to make a good ‘girls toy’ or a ‘boys toy’.

Over time, fewer stereotypes and more inclusion of genders, races, and family types would be a wonderful thing to see as one takes a stroll down the toy aisle.

Some manufacturers are legitimately trying to make gender neutral toys and we applaud them.

But others are still stuck on making toys that are geared towards girls or boys, such as chemistry kits that are only designed to make makeup and perfume, or building toys that only come in pink and purple or red and blue.

Because, otherwise how will you hold a girl’s interest? (That thick sarcasm? That was intentional!)

What we need are more quality toys that just show how interesting science is, without bothering to dress it up in pretty pink ribbons for the fairer sex.

Trust me. We’ll get it.

Girls Playing With Boys’ Toys

Girls are perfectly capable of playing with boys’ toys and of learning from these types of toys without them being fancied up.

Perhaps it’s time that we drop the gender marketing and allow the playing field to be a bit more neutral.

Kids just need adults to get out of their way a bit and understand that fun toys are just that — toys.

There’s no gender on a LEGO brick set until it’s actually painted on with stickers and colors.

There’s no gender on a science kit until it’s assigned.

A bow and arrow, a train, or a race car isn’t a ‘toy for boys’ until someone tells that little girl it is, and then she may never touch it again.

Boys Playing With Girls’ Toys

The exact same issue is true for boys playing with girls’ toys.

They’re pretending to put a doll to bed, cook dinner for their family, or build a house with their sister’s blocks.

They’re not ‘acting like a sissy’ or ‘playing with girls’ toys’ until someone tells them so, and then it’s all downhill from there.

Just let them be little and enjoy playing with the toys that are fun for them, instead of putting a much bigger role on them that’s simply not there.

Gender neutral toys are becoming easier to spot, both in stores and online.

If you have a chance to purchase one for your next birthday gift, or for your own child, consider picking one up.

You may be making quite the difference in that child’s life and providing them with an opportunity they may not otherwise have had!