How do I help my daughter understand this new phase in her childhood?

Question

My daughter is almost 5. She is not a tom boy, but she enjoys playing with boys more than she does girls her age. I think it's because up until she was 3 she interacted with boys more than girls, every setting she was in she was almost always the only girl just out of coincidence. She's getting to the age where the boys are thinking "ewww girls" but she hasn't reached that "yucky boys" phase yet. She keeps trying to interact with the little boys but they just shoot her down every time, poor thing. Is there a way for me to explain this to her without her feelings getting hurt? I don't want her to think she can't play with boys at all, because I don't think that is the solution.

Update:

Just want to add that I think it's great that she plays with boys! I think it will only help her in the long run as she gets older. I have never discouraged her from playing with any child and I never would do that, and I guess I wish other parents would talk to their children as well about including everyone not just boys or girls. Thanks for the answers so far, lots of good ideas!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I have all boys and the boys are thinking at this age 5 yucky "girls" they dont want to play with the girls at this age but, if she has true friends that are boys this will not make a difference. My son is 15 and all his life he has had more girls for friends than boys. he has friends that are boys but his choice is the girls. This is good for him, because of girl friends, he has no problem getting one and all the other boys like to be around my son on account he has lots of friends that are girl lol
so i would not worry about it she is starting school and with this other girls will be around her to befriend and the boys will still be her friend.

? · Answer

this is strange to me, as both my son and daughter ages 3 and 8 have always played with the opposite genders and the same genders...i have never experienced the ewwww stage, maybe you could intervene on her behalf in front of the other children explaining that we can all play with one another....an example would be when i had my son with his three friends over 1 boy and 2 girls and my daughter had a friend over...another boy......they played house and pirates...where they were a family of pirates and of course, my daughter played the baby while the oldest girl was the mom and the boys warded off bad guys....yes, these are stereotypical roles, but they chose them....maybe all they need is a few ideas to get started playing together

Anonymous · Answer

let her figure it out on her own.  Eventually she will come to you with the question as to why boys don't like her.  In the end it will make her a stronger person.  

And also, you are assuming that all boys will shun her away...  I'm sure thats not the case.

M n M · Answer

i think you should just try to get her to be around more girls the way she was around boys. this will help her get used to the idea and let her find that she has more in common with girls. i think she may be too young to talk to her about it.

Anonymous · Answer

talk to her and let her know why this is happening. Bring her to some nice park and see if she can make friends there or at preschool who are girls! She'll probably make friends quick and forget about boys until she's 13 :)

stinkypinkyteddybear · Answer

As long as your daughters happy and interacting it doesn't matter, leave her play with the boys if she wants too.

yup2much4u · Answer

I would say u should sit her down and try to explain it to her. Find something that's fun for her to play with that involves girls. Like jump rope, dolls, or things like that. Good luck!

Anonymous · Answer

awwwww poor thing. why dont you just encourage her to be more friendly with the girls at her school etc. by inviting other children round to play and eat dinner etc.  that way she wont get lonely either.

andrew5544 · Answer

Let her keep trying.... She'll learn... Just be there for her when she gets hurt... Soon enough she'll run away from boys ;)

emilo009 · Answer

hmmm....really i have no idea... just try to get her to play wit some more girls they should be able to help her

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How do I help my daughter understand this new phase in her childhood?

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