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Questions & Answers

Parenting

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Marriage and Family › Parenting

The question

I have a 6 year old boy and an 8 year old girl. He usually likes to play with girls at school and talks about them at home and she usually likes to play with boys at school and talks about them at home. I am concerned about that because he is a boy and she is a girl? What should I do? He tries to be as big as her while she tries to be as young as him. I feel that he is older than her in many situations. I would like to know how to deal with them without hurting their feelings.

The answer

At this age of your children, it is important to pay some attention to their understanding of gender identity, but without over-concern or alarm. Encourage each of your children to have some friends over from time to time or have a special outing for each group. You may also enroll your children in different sports and activities where they will form bonds with their peers of the same gender. As for their role reversal at home, try to spend a little one-on-one time with each of them at least once per week so they can appreciate your sincere interest and value of them as a whole person.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 1493 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.