Should parents worry if sons like to dress as girls?
By KRISTEN HOWERTON
TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT: Advice for moms
FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/boys-283730-cross-dressing.htmlDear Kristen,
As a therapist, what do you think about little boys dressing up as girls? Sometimes my 5-year-old son wants to dress in my daughter's princess costumes and it really bothers my husband. Should we be worried?
- Stacy
Children dressing up as the opposite gender is very common (almost as common, in fact, as parents who are worried about this behavior.) But rest assured, it is perfectly normal.
Dressing up and playing pretend is the activity of choice for children of this age. In fact, pretend play is considered to be a sign of healthy development. Children of this age should engage in a wide variety of fantasy play, and pretending to be a different gender is just one variation. Kids are exploring who they are, but at this age they are also very clearly delineating the gender differences between girls and boys.
