by GeorgeGee left Answerbag (What's this?) on November 21st, 2009

GeorgeGee left Answerbag (What's this?)

Question

Help answer this question below.

What age is too young for a child to declare their sexual preference? If your 3 year old boy says he wants to be a girl, would you dress him up in girl's clothes for the rest of his childhood?

  • Like
  • Report

Answers. 27 helpful answers below.

  • by Millenium - The Mysterious M. . . GONE! on November 21st, 2009

    Millenium - The Mysterious M. . . GONE!

    <slapping forehead in DISBELIEF of question>

    • Like
    • Report

    5 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by Prunesquallor on November 22nd, 2009

    Prunesquallor

    I have heard that most transsexual people realise that their body does not conform with their gender at about the age of five.

    Three strikes me as a bit young. However, if the feelings were persistent, then I would allow them to have the clothes they wanted.

    • Like
    • Report

    2 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by Anonymous on November 21st, 2009

    Anonymous

    No, I would tell him he's a boy. Kids say and do all kinds of random things when they're that young. I think it's just nonsense when people go along with it. Would you believe them if they said they were an alien? I think not...

    If you just tell them "no" then 9 times out of 10 it would end right there. They would forget about it as they do most things. If it happens that they still hold this belief when they're older teenagers then feel free to support them.

    +3

    • Like
    • Report

    6 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by Piggle on November 26th, 2009

    Piggle

    If he said he wanted to be Batman would you dress him as a superhero for the rest of his childhood?

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by RubyReds on November 26th, 2009

    RubyReds

    At age of 3 boys might even still play with dolls and girls with dinkitoys. So no, I would not do that.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Kat on November 21st, 2009

    Kat

    Good question. I have read so many stories of children born one sex but feeling, from a very young age, that they are of a different sex. Being forced to be what they are can lead to a lot of trauma/difficulties in their future. I really don't know the answer but perhaps the parents could take the child to see a person who is a professional in this type of situation. Children are very impressionable and sensitive at that age and should be treated as such. One could perhaps (with the help of the specialist) learn (over a reasonable time period) whether it is just a stage, or whether it is likely to be permanent; and treat the child according to the advice of the professionals.

    • Like
    • Report

    10 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by keiran on November 21st, 2009

    keiran

    No! A child of 3 years is hardly going to know what they want. Especially a major decision like that. I sometimes look back at things i've considered doing (not as major as this obviously, just minor things) in the past couple of years and think what a rediculous idea! Therefore a child is unable to accurately judge a situation like this.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Anonymous on January 24th, 2010

    Anonymous

    No. If this persists then you may need to talk to professional.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by shammers still slogging along on November 27th, 2009

    shammers still slogging along

    I am not an expert in this area and if this was happening in my family I would consult my pediatrician and perhaps even get a second opinion before I did anything at all.

    • Like
    • Report

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

  • by thoughtnaut on November 27th, 2009

    thoughtnaut

    This is a gender preference rather than a sexual preference. A person could be born male and feel female, but still be attracted to females. This is like the classic "a lesbian trapped in a man's body." Not to make fun, just a well known cultural example.

    Children will play with ideas and have rich fantasy lives. Just as they have imaginary friends, they can have fantasy selves. He is exploring ideas and still making his self-image.

    I think the safe course is to dress the child in clothes that are fun and colorful but not really gender specific. Rather than a pink easter dress or a cowboy suit with toy guns, just go with comfortable, easy to wear, cute clothes that would suit anyone. Give the child time and don't panic. We want to be good parents, so sometimes we jump the gun and are too proactive.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by LaserHairRemovalGuru on November 27th, 2009

    LaserHairRemovalGuru

    My answer:

    As a parents you should try to assess the situation as a parenting situation rather than assessing it through a society's melo-drama.

    If he was my child, I would let him play with girl things at home, encouraging his positively and as he gets his curiosity is fulfilled he will let you know if this is a psychological issue or a just a phase. Remember children go through phases, feelings, thoughts, ideas etc in a jolt of lightening sometimes as good parents if we support them on their enthusiasm we will able to let our children find themselves sooner and be able to help them become confident beings. No body deserves to grow up with fear of rejection and isolation and those who do usually start at a childhood age where most parents are to blame.

    hope it helps

    S

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Indigo- in the library with the revolver on November 26th, 2009

    Indigo- in the library with the revolver

    That's not sexual preference, that's gender identity. I suppose I would dress him up in girls' clothing when he (or she, if she indeed identifies as a girl) felt like wearing it. It's not like the child is going to be traumatized by having worn a skirt at age 3, and they can always tell me what they want -- and later in their childhood, they can pick out their own clothing.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by TheJoker on November 26th, 2009

    TheJoker

    I'd say that 3 is a little young to make a life-long decision. However I would certainly allow the child to experiment with clothing & hair etc.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by DrKhyber on November 26th, 2009

    DrKhyber

    Well, as a professional psychiatrist I would have to suggest shoving a dildo up his ass and asking if he is prepared to deal with that for the rest of his life.

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by pandora on November 21st, 2009

    pandora

    It is not unusual for young children to be impressed with the opposite sex and see them more in a positive light. I believe a 3 year old may think girls are prettier and maybe even treated differently so they may desire to be a girl. Even at such a young age children can see the cultural difference or even have a poor body image of themselves. They may think that by changing their clothing and posing as the opposite sex that it will change who they are. I would inquire to make sure this isn't the case and give him reasons to think more positively about his own gender.
    Little girls are often treated sweeter and little boys are told to be tough men. Some don't want to be tough men, just little boys.

    • Like
    • Report

    13 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by 4down2 on November 21st, 2009

    4down2

    question for Wonder Woman ?

    • Like
    • Report

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Anonymous on November 21st, 2009

    Anonymous

    No. He will always be a boy NO MATTER WHAT! 3yr olds don't know what they want anyway. What sex you are is not a decision. DNA says you are a dude then you're a dude not a chick.

    • Like
    • Report

    4 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by Xenon6 on May 25th, 2010

    Xenon6

    This is serious. At 3 this really is a transgender child.
    It was almost certainally caused by a lack of testerone at a certain time in pregenancy. It is going to be a permeant condition. It is really important that you don't try to push him into a male role or you will stuff him up for life.

    Change her name to a girl's name or a gender neutral name like Morgan or Jamie, let her grow heh hair and dress him in clothes of his choice.

    Most important - BEFORE he gets to pubity find a doctor who will put him on hormones because the testerone of pubity will make big changes and ruin her life.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Vaporeongirl on August 8th, 2010

    Vaporeongirl

    At age 3 a child doesn't even understand the implications of being a cross-dresser. 3-year-olds are too young to decide what to eat for breakfast, let alone make the decision to be a transexual or cross-dresser. Give me a break. Now if they were saying that at 13 or 14, then I might take it more seriously.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by nfld on April 8th, 2010

    nfld

    yes it is his choice

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Pinklipstick2400 on January 29th, 2010

    Pinklipstick2400

    Actualy at this age is when they will start to choose for themselves, believe it or not. regardless you should love your child unconditionally. I say you should lay out 2 sets of clothes, for boy and girl and let him decide for himself. If you are curious look up "Gender Identity Disorder" or "Transgender". :)

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by mrbillsboy on December 6th, 2010

    mrbillsboy

    child needs to go through puberty before sexual feeling start. At age 3 the child is a child with no sexual thoughts.
    Do not mark him after a statement like this at this age.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by rose1980 on November 21st, 2009

    rose1980

    If you do that, have you ever heard of the words DYFS?

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Anonymous on November 22nd, 2009

    Anonymous

    Before they are mature.
    +5

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by macyxtreme on November 21st, 2009

    macyxtreme

    If he looks like a boy, has had the chromozones and parts of a boy since he was conceived, then there is no way he could really have some "sexual preference" towards being a girl. He's probably just saying one of the many, silly, flighty things little kids say.

    I would probably tell my 3 year old boy who said that "But you're a boy" the first time he said it. If he continued, then I would tell him he is a boy, not a girl, and there's no sense in wishing to be what you cannot be. You are whatever sex you were born as; no number of surgeries to change how you look can ever alter what your are.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by StupidGirl on November 21st, 2009

    StupidGirl

    Yes for sure! She knows who she is. Take it from a transsexual girl. Respect her now, go see a doctor and she'll be able to avoid a lot of issues M2F transsexual girls have to face like voices breaking around age 14, no boobs, too tall, no hips, too wide shoulders, all the freaking hair, ... all of that! You'll do her a big favor. Respect your child and her beliefs, treat her the ways she wants to be treated and let her be who she really is.
    -
    You cannot change her spirit. You can only change the body. She's got a heavy hormonal imbalance. Her mind is ok!
    -
    When I was a little kid lying in my crib and woke up, realized I had a penis and went "Oh fuck no what is that's not supposed to be there?!". I wish my parents respected me back then. So please respect her!!
    -
    Also look up Kim Petras.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

  • by Princessboy on February 6th, 2012

    Princessboy

    The question isn't about age it is about feeling of self awarness. I would wait to do somthing like that, gut when he talks about things like this listen.

    No comments. Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

You're reading What age is too young for a child to declare their sexual preference? If your 3 year old boy says he wants to be a girl, would you dress him up in girl's clothes for the rest of his childhood?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

ANSWERBAG BUZZ

Kim petras in tights
Kim petras tights
Why parents should not allow their child at a young age to become transgender
Kid says he wants to be a girl
3 year old male preference for girls clothes