While some expectant mothers do not mind whether they will have a son or a daughter, some (perhaps secretly or implicitly) have a gender preference. If you know the differences between girls and boys, you can build a great relationship regardless of gender. Here are some tips for you.<\/p>\n
When you have a baby, the first question everyone asks is: \u201cIs it a boy or a girl?\u201d Gender often influences the choice of the colours of the nursery, your baby’s clothes, and the toys you start dreaming of buying – a doll for a girl, a car for a boy. All these choices, which not only you but so many of us make without realizing it, bring the following question to mind: Are children’s character traits innate or do they develop as a result of our influence? In other words, are they the result of nature or nurture?<\/p>\n
Most experts agree that both factors play a role. Research has shown that nature and genetics play an important role. Already in the womb babies’ brains develop differently according to their gender. This has long-term effects. For instance, when growing up, boys will usually be good at physical activities, while girls often excel in writing and speaking. Strikingly, experiments have also shown that young male monkeys, when presented with toys, naturally choose moving objects like cars and helicopters, while the females tend to opt for dolls and plush toys. 1 There is no doubt that there are many physical and psychological differences between girls and boys from the moment they are born.<\/p>\n
Nurture, or the upbringing within the family and society, is also crucial in character formation. We expect girls to be \u201cgood\u201d and to adapt to the social environment better than boys, so we are often more tolerant toward boys being noisy, overactive, etc. At the same time, boys are told not to cry, while crying is tolerated more in girls. Experiments show that caregivers even push stereotypically gender-specific toys on kids, even when they prefer a different toy. Our own behaviour clearly influences gender behaviour in the long run.<\/p>\n