The Importance of Gender Neutral Toys in Toddlers

Are gender neutral toys those that are brightly coloured red, blue, green and yellow? Rather than pink for girls and blue for boys. Or does gender neutral mean boys playing with traditional girls' toys and girls playing with boys' toys? If you have multiple children (or plan to) then having brightly coloured toys such as bikes, cot toys and activity tables will mean that Little Johnny will not have to inherit the pink Dora trike and your toy bill will be less for subsequent children.

I believe it is very important for boys to play with dolls. Dressing baby dolls, bathing them and taking them for a walk are all valuable life skills and teach children to care. Having a doll to care for can really help prepare a child for the arrival of a new brother or sister as they can act out caring for a baby. It is important to get away from the narrow minded and inaccurate view that boys who play with dolls and dress-up in mum's clothes will grow up to be homosexual or that girls who don't will be lesbians.

Arrange play dates with friends who have children so that they can experience different toys, especially important if you have two boys and your best friend has two girls. Let the girls get dirty digging in the mud and the sandpit. Let the boys put on face paint or makeup if they want to.

Being a toddler is all about fun and having new experiences. So let the boys play at baking, hanging out the washing and changing nappies, and let the girls play with Legos and swords! All toddlers should have access to construction toys, ride-ons, puzzles, balls and building blocks to develop their fine motor skills and concentration. Purchase toys for toddlers in neutral, bright colours and let them choose sometimes.

It is important for toddlers to be exposed to a wide variety of experiences to assist with their development, but never forget that life at their age is all about fun. Encourage your children, boys and girls to climb trees, kick a football, read books about machines, help you wash the car, dig in the garden, cook and help with the laundry. Don't force your toddler to play with toys they don't want to and certainly do not restrict them if you consider their choice not typical for their gender.

Kids need time to be kids, there is plenty of time for gender stereotypical behaviour when they get older.