You child might love princesses or PAW Patrol with the power of a thousand suns, but it pales in comparison to the love and admiration they have for you. While it may not seem like your toddler cares much about your opinions as they defiantly toss Cheerios on the floor, the truth is, you’re their guiding star—especially when it comes to how they view gender roles and identities.
Avoiding learned gender stereotypes can be tricky. Even adults can have trouble spotting seemingly innocent behaviors that actually undermine gender equality. But now is the time to be thoughtful about how you portray gender to your young kids. “Between the ages of 3 and 6, your kids are really attuned to gender differences,” says Christia Spears Brown, PhD, director of the Center for Equality and Social Justice at University of Kentucky and author of Parenting Beyond Pink & Blue: How to Raise Your…
