Gender in Play and Learning

Enter any early childhood setting and there is a good chance you will see some gendered play and behaviour.

Our profession is female dominated and early childhood settings can be feminised environments.

Equitable play and learning opportunities for girls is important. It is also important to be aware of and not miss the mark when it comes to boys’ particular needs.

This article discusses ways to achieve a balance of recognition and extension of boys’ gender identity, while ensuring that boys are exposed to a wide range of curriculum areas and skills to provide them with a strong foundation for their future education.

Ideas for activities and learning extensions are provided in this article for teachers who are working with boys aged 3- 5 years.

Gender expectations on boys.

Young boys can love pretty and feminine things. They like to dress up in pretty clothes and be princesses, fairies, and play female roles.

But parents may worry that it could be an early sign of femininity and see that teachers who allow boys to dress-up in girls’ clothes are setting them up for ridicule. 

This article looks at arguments around boys and educational underachievement and proposes that early childhood teachers should take education to where the boys are at. UK education expert Tim Kahn, gives an example of how an early childhood teacher put aside her initial feeling to forbid boys from following their play interest and en

Men Change Nappies – Men Who Change Nappies, Change the World. By Bryan G. Nelson.

Changing the nappies of other people’s children is something that few people, men or women, usually rush to do. And nappy changing is commonly viewed as a woman’s task anyway so we shouldn’t worry if men do it or not. Or should we? 

I remember wor

Male teacher popularity with children.

Why are kids always drawn to the male teacher? Our kids always go for John – it’s “Hi John” when they come in the door and they hang around him most of the day. We are feeling a bit peeved at his popularity I must say – and the fact that we are left with cleaning the tables etc.  We often can

Should Boys Have a Male Teacher?

I don’t believe we as women understand how boys really tick.  If boys had a male teacher would this help their achievement and reduce problem behaviours?Female kindergarten head teacher.

Dr Alexander replies

Female teachers can support boys as well as male teachers at early childhood level.