Awareness of Self and Others
"Chapter 18" By: Abby Timm-Haworth
Gender Awareness:
Family and friends help children learn whether they are girls or boys. By age 3 children know their gender. They use clothing and hairstyles that help designate their gender. They also like to imitate parents and caregivers. When children are between four and six years old, they finally understand that girls grow up to be women who may become mothers and that boys grow into men who may become fathers. Sometimes they my confused about husbands and wives.
Gender Roles:
Young children learn their male or female roles from family members, friends, neighbors, and teachers. Children in single-parent families should be given the opportunity to interact regularly with relatives or friends of the opposite gender than the parent. Parents and caregivers should encourage children to develop their interests and abilities without regard to gender. Both boys and girls should develop physical skills of strength, agility, speed, and stamina. Both and should learn to express emotions and to give and receive love. Both should learn to compete with others.