tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post9223074392909561208..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Girls V. BoysTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-18361535945737608332013-06-15T03:20:59.204-07:002013-06-15T03:20:59.204-07:00Perhaps it is only a developmental thing because t...Perhaps it is only a developmental thing because the child has been told since birth that he is a boy/girl, and so there comes a stage where they want to discover what this label means.<br />Maybe if we instilled the idea that our kids are whatever colour skin they are as much, they'd want to explore that too.<br />I'm sure my son would want to touch/fiddle with his willy whether girls existed or not, he'd still want to explore it, but its just a body part, he wouldnt necesarrily be exploring how he's different from others.dajd1984https://www.blogger.com/profile/13879535144874015451noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-49994322219955242012013-05-27T09:57:30.358-07:002013-05-27T09:57:30.358-07:00"I think the difference with gender is that t..."I think the difference with gender is that the childrens themselves have noticed it. It is a stage of development that children go through. Race/colour/creed isn't something that children would naturally segregate by, it is learned behaviour"--I don't agree with this. Children absolutely notice race, even though adults sometimes like to pretend that they don't and I have seen them self-segregate by it. A lot of anti-racist activists speak about the importance of acknowledging and talking about race with very young children, especially White children, because otherwise the message is received that race is something taboo that must never be mentioed. (Parents of color generally do talk about race with their kids, apparently--you just do, because you have to.)<br /><br />I liked the idea of talking with the kids after the play is complete--a debriefing, so to speak.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-9671558215435679642013-05-26T09:50:22.832-07:002013-05-26T09:50:22.832-07:00At this age I would think that kids matching thems...At this age I would think that kids matching themselves into groups is not a bad thing at all. I suppose it would be no different that categorizing other objects. The concern would be the terms used to show power versus the other category/group. I don't think kids are doing this because they believe they are better or superior in their group so much as an understand of power in numbers and how grouping together and working as a team can make you stronger. Just remember that every experience is a lesson learned but adults can help facilitate the lesson that is learned from it by asking open questions.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16499547328817835808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-67008923664125692282013-05-25T17:42:16.952-07:002013-05-25T17:42:16.952-07:00Perhaps posing the question of why each group is s...Perhaps posing the question of why each group is so proud that they chant their "title", not to interrupt play, but to open up a social dialog for reflecting once play has ceased. This opportunity may come during play if someone seems hurt or uncomfortable by the segregation of peers.Nancy Geier Puckettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-70089079207313314562013-05-24T13:19:27.411-07:002013-05-24T13:19:27.411-07:00I think the difference with gender is that the chi...I think the difference with gender is that the childrens themselves have noticed it. It is a stage of development that children go through. Race/colour/creed isn't something that children would naturally segregate by, it is learned behaviour and therefore easier to distinguish i.e. starting with an odd comment from one child perhaps and slowing spreading. That's just my take on it, in my experience anyway :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-57700794653008901102013-05-23T11:47:24.257-07:002013-05-23T11:47:24.257-07:00I was thinking the same thing as the other anonymo...I was thinking the same thing as the other anonymous poster. How is chosen segregation by race, or class different from chosen segregation by gender? I have seen all of the above acted out on playgrounds and am uncomfortable with all of them, particularly since many people end up continuing this type of segregation into adulthood. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-70942738587688298842013-05-23T05:08:53.255-07:002013-05-23T05:08:53.255-07:00That's a good question, Anon. I think gender, ...That's a good question, Anon. I think gender, at least at this age, is different, but I don't know why. You've given me something to think about.<br /><br />And other Anon. -- I read Roxaboxen in class today. I'd forgotten about the girl v. boy war.Teacher Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-35476044995800288222013-05-22T13:18:36.199-07:002013-05-22T13:18:36.199-07:00Reminds me of one of my favorite picture books, Ro...Reminds me of one of my favorite picture books, Roxaboxen (McLerran/Cooney) which describes elaborate imaginative play, including play of this kind and with similar language (ie. the girls were "girl scouts").Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-2057053419967951872013-05-22T09:07:37.006-07:002013-05-22T09:07:37.006-07:00Girls rule, boys drool.Girls rule, boys drool.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07874897254332872367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-50431641743694068052013-05-22T06:21:13.757-07:002013-05-22T06:21:13.757-07:00I'm truly not asking this as a gotcha, because...I'm truly not asking this as a gotcha, because I've been in this situation myself with kids and really wondered whether to step in...but what if it was the same game, only the kids were separating by race, or another marker? I'm guessing we would step in. Why is gender different?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com