My boy likes dresses

My 5 year old likes dresses, hairbows, playing with dolls and "girl" toys. He loves long hair too. He had long hair for about 2 years until he kept getting candy and food in it. He likes to go to the store and tell me which girl clothes are pretty. He also likes to watch "girl" movies (Princess movies, Barbie, etc)
He also likes all the stuff a little boy likes too.

When he starts playing with dolls or playing with my 3 year old's dresses, I don't tell him to stop. I even tell him, "Yes, that's a really pretty dress!"

A lot of people tell me that I'm encouraging him to be girly, but I don't think so. They say that we don't need to let him play with the stuff he does and when he starts talking about girl clothes and "girly" stuff, we need to shut him down.
They say he'll turn out to be gay if we encourage him.

I don't agree. He is who he is and I think he is perfectly fine. I don't care if he doesn't stick with exclusively boy toys or movies.

What do you think? Do boys his age do both boy and girl things? Should I shut him down when he starts doing/talking about girly things?
I'm just a little frustrated.

Let him be himself! Keep doing what you are doing.  

People who think pink will turn you gay are ignorant.

My brothers played with dolls and did dress up. One is still only 16 and the other has 2 kids. Let your son just have fun and be himself.

IF hes going to be more feminine or even gay then hes going to be that...tell them this.
Taking it away now will not change that, he will re discover it later on.
I think you are doing wonderful! YOur letting him be who ever he wants to be! forcing "boy" things on him will not do anything different he likes what he want.

My son picked out princess othhpaste yesterday.



He wants a barbie house for Xmas.



I don't see the need to make him second guess himself. He just turned four. Let him be! That's my opinion. Your child will be who they want to be, encouraging words and confidence are all that's needed from parents. They can figure out their sexual preference in time.

No i don't think you are encouraging him to be girly

Quoting ℳary ℐane:" Let him be himself! Keep doing what you are doing.   People who think pink will turn you gay are ignorant. "

this!

Yes because liking girly things is what makes people gay. Geeze people amaze me. If your son is happy and healthy then let him be. My 3 year old daughter plays with both "boys" and "girls" toys. Just encourage him to play and be a good person. If he ends up gay im sure you will love him just the same.

I wouldn't shut him down, there's no reason to. I would shut the people down telling you how to parent.

Thanks everyone. It makes me frustrated when people talk like that. And even if he does end up gay I don't really care. He'll still be the same person he always was.

People overlook the fact that he also does everything a little boy does and they just focus on the "girly" stuff.

It's sad people think that way.  


Good for you for letting him be himself!

That doesn't even mean he'll turn out gay, but if he does, who cares?! He'll still be the same sweet little boy  

IMO there is NO reason to stop him. Letting him play with dolls won't turn him gay any more than stopping him will turn him straight.

That's stupid. No you are not making him gay. I know someone and her husband doesn't like their son to play with bows and stuff and I'm like,wtf? If your daughter wanted to play with race cars you wouldn't tell her no,right?

I dressed my little bro up all the time with dresses,make up,and jewlery. If that's the case he should be gay as hell.

I think you're doing just what you should be doing. You're encouraging him to use imaginative play, which is how kids learn! Believe me, nothing he wears or plays with will make him gay, straight, transgender, or even gender confused. Those things are biological and were wired from birth.

Keep on doing what you're doing!

If he were a girl wanting a football or G.I. Joes no one would say anything about it. Double standards.

Don't "shut him down" or anything of the sort! Let him be himself!