Reply to 4 yr old says he wishes he was a girl

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm not really sure how to deal with this and whether we should even think of it as something to 'deal' with.  I just don't want to not do something early enough if that's what's right in this situation.  Advice?[/quote]

At this age, the only thing that is important is that you treat him normally and allow him to explore whatever he wants.  It is possible that he has gender identity issues, but even if he does, you would treat him the same...because he's 4.  You have no idea if he likes to do things that he was told only girls do, whether he wants to play girl parts in fantasy play or whether he does have gender identity issues.  Treat everything he does as normal children's play and exploration.  If he wants to be a girl, address the specific issue (he wants to play house and be the mommy?  Sure.   he wants to dress up like a Disney princess?  No problem) and treat it as normal play.  If he still says this when he's older and has more understanding of gender and gender identity, then you address that issue.

My twin 4 year old boys often do make believe play and it's not unusual for one of them to occasionally pick a girl character to play.  It happens and there's nothing wrong with it.  For us, it's all normal and they're perfectly normal little boys.  I rather doubt either one has a gender identity issue, but if they do, we'll love and support them through whatever it takes for them to help them maintain their mental health.  But I'm not ready to attribute this to that situation until they are older and have at least some understanding of what makes someone male or female.[/quote]

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