Teaching Toddlers About Gender and Body

Updated on November 07, 2010
K.D. asks from Excelsior, MN
8 answers

My son who is almost 3 has noticed that he has parts that girls don't. I have been talking to him about it and he seems to somewhat understand that there is a differance. My question is, besides books and our talks, I am trying to find some kind of coloring page for him that would should a drawing with the differances between a girl and boy. I can only find adult drawings, which there is no way I'm showing him all that kind of stuff for years. Is there a site I can go to too print off coloring pages with child body diagrams? I've been searching and searching and am starting to feel odd typing in my discription of what I'm looking for. I'm suprised I'm not flagged as trying to look up something illegal. Can anyone help, my son is very smart and I want him to know that it's great being differant from the girls yet all boys are the same and all girls are the same (anatomy). I'd also like to find a toddler/child friendly skeleton for us to learn and talk about as well. I'd really love the help of where to find something that's not too "cartoon" like but rather a simple outline drawing showing the genders in a very toddler/child friendly way.

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So What Happened?

We went and got a few more books for him to look at, and he had a few questions to ask, nothing mind blowing or anything. He'd ask me a question, then ask the same to daddy. I'm not trying to push him to know the difference. However I kind of like to have some knowledge on what I should say. I feel the more he want's to know (not EVERYTHING) I want to be able to share in his learning and if he knows now some of the basics, it won't become a big deal to him later. Knowledge is life, and I want him to have all the chances to know himself and be confident and to know that no matter what, he'll know that daddy and mommy are always there for him.

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D.K.

answers from Sioux City on

I don't understand why you would want coloring pages of naked children. I would say it's inappropriate. I have six kids in all and there will be plenty of opportunities to explain the differences between boys and girls. You don't have to go looking for them. What he understands at this point is about all he needs to know at age 3.

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

I think it would be TMI for a 3 y/o. All gender/sex/erection things/questions have to be treated matter-of-factly and with only the amount of info child seeking (the key is NOT more!)
I have a 3.5 y/o and he noticed that girls, and me do not have what he have.
This conversation went like that:
-mommy, you do not have a pi-pi...
-no I do not.
-your pi-pi comes from your butt?
-no, I have a little hole for that... all girls have...boys have big pi-pi and girls have very small.
-is it painfull?
-not at all, it feels the same as for you.
-OK
-you have any more questions?
-no.
And that was it! No more details. I have a now 12 y older boy and he had a question at 5 "Where the babies come from?". She became very confused and sent him to me. That conversation went like that:
-Mommy, where the babies come from?
-Dear, what is it you want to know?
-I want to know if the baby really lives in the belly and then comes out?
-That is exactly how it happens.
-But how does it come out?
-Mommy has a special small opening called vagina, when the baby is ready mommy stretches a lot down there and the baby is able to come out.
-Does it hurt?
-Yes, it does, sometimes very much.
-Did it hurt when I came out?
-Yes it did.
-But you are OK now?
-I am all good now and very glad I have you. Is there anything else you wanted to ask?
-No, just that. Thank you.
And through the years I had to answer questions like "What is gay?", "Who is a pedofile?", "What is wet dream? Will I have one?" You get the picture.
I follow the same script always:
1. Find out what the child already knows.
2. Answer the specific question, no more no less.
3. Ask if there is more the child wants to know.
Never push that sort of info on the kid - all will come in due time.
Hope that helps. Good luck.

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C.A.

answers from San Francisco on

I think you are about to provide 'too' much information. My ten and seven year old sons quickly learned the differences between boys and girls without any drawings just by me talking to them. The fact that these pictures are difficult to find should tell you that they are not necessary.

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S.C.

answers from Fort Wayne on

You aren't going to find drawings of naked children. It's not appropriate, in my opinion. I don't think there's any need to harp on the subject. He knows that boys are different than girls, let it be that. There's no need to go into such depth.

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K.R.

answers from Minneapolis on

Go to the library and get "It's Not the Stork" or the version for little kids by the same authors. It has kid-friendly pictures.

S.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Coloring books I don't know about.
However, there are wonderful books about the body
suitable for toddlers, that your local public library has.
And big bookstores, too.
Skin, skeletal system, digestive system, reproductive system.
Everything.
Ask your librarian.
And you're doing a great job, mom!!

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J.P.

answers from Madison on

Have you seen the "Your Body" boy and girl puzzles made by Beleduc? I think you would really like them. They have them at Oompa Toys. I don't know if they carry them in the store, but you can view/buy them on their website: http://www.oompa.com/baby-toys/item/BC17129/Beleduc-Your-... Body Boy

If the link doesn't work, go to the oompa.com website and look under puzzles, and then multi-layer puzzles.

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J.C.

answers from Sacramento on

Go the the library or bookstore Mom and get some simple childrens book on this topic. I know there are some out there.

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