[Infographic] How do 5-year-old kids perceive gender in toys?

Our group in my Human Sexuality course conducted a case study to answer this question. The locale of our study was the Child Development Laboratory of the Department of Human and Family Development Studies, College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna. We focused on the pre-kinder pupils. Their class advisers, Teacher Jean and Teacher Maris, selected five girls and five boys for our study.

Because our aim was to discover how the five-year-olds perceive gender in toys, we asked them to classify the toys into the categories ‘for boy’ or ‘for girl.’ We asked the question, “Ano to, pang-boy o pang-girl?” while letting them play with the toys that they encounter in their classroom.

We asked the question, “Ano to, pang-boy o pang-girl?” while letting them play with the toys that they encounter in their classroom. | Infographic by Chiara Karenina Manuel

The results show that at the age of five, they already have their concept of gender. In fact, their concepts reflect on how they classify toys.

The majority showed distinct classifications: it seemed some toys were exclusive to boys or girls. However, two girls who believed that any toy can be for everyone, or for those who want to play with his/her choosing, won our hearts because they demonstrated the value of equality among any gender, child or toy.

What about you? What are the toys you believe are exclusive for boys and for girls?

Disclaimer: As much as I want to share the story through pictures and videos, our subjects are minors so we are not allowed to disclose their names. Their names are replaced in this article.