Boy-friends

My daughter had just completed her first week of school when I sat down to talk with her about “how things were going.” We chatted about her teacher, what she was learning, and her lunchtime woes (let’s just say she wasn’t too thrilled with the raisin crunch she was served for snack). Then our conversation turned to “Who do you like to play with in your class?” I expected to hear all about Lindsey, Sarah, and Colleen…but what I got instead was Ryan, Josh, and Michael.

Let’s face it, having boys as friends is fun! After all, traditional “boy” games like running, diving in the mud, and climbing the jungle gym (backwards) are exciting and challenging. But forming a friendship with the opposite sex can also provide a positive, nurturing bond that little girls can benefit from.

Besides giving girls a different perspective on the world, having boyfriends provides girls with an opportunity to learn how to appreciate and “deal with” the opposite sex. Traditionally, boys have different interests (trucks vs. dolls) and different ways of communicating (though it’s important to note that not every boy adopts traditional male roles and should not be forced to). Girls tend to be more accommodating and nurturing (again, a generalization). By mixing it up, girls can get more exposure to different kinds of play, encouraging them to learn new social skills and to make better choices.

So if your little girl is “into boys” more than girls at this age, go with it. Childhood is the perfect time for her to try a wide variety of experiences to help her figure out her likes and dislikes. Besides, by the time she hits eight or nine, boys will all have cooties!

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