Is it healthy for a 1 year old boy to have a tea set?

Question

Our little boy was given a tea set at Christmas and we are starting to wonder if this is a good thing for a little boy to have? The person who gave the gift said it is to help him learn about how to hold cups and to pour etc but it is worrying!

Answer 1

Don't worry at all - it is healthy for children to play with the toys they want, without adults putting stereotypes on them.

There is nothing wrong with boys playing with 'girls' toys, or the other way around!

Answer 2

Personally I would have thought that a tea set wouldn't be a sensible gift for ANY one year old due to small parts but that aside I would think the worst that will happen is that he will learn to offer other people cups of tea!!!!

Answer 3

It's ok that they gave it to him. You shouldn't worry. I have a 2 1/2 yr old son. When I was living with my sister and her 4 yr old daughter, Dixie would always play with my son. They would play with tea sets, house, dolls, make-up. As long as he's not just playing with girls toys you have nothing to worry about. He's too little to really notice the difference. The best thing to do is love him the same and take PICS! Show him when he get's older. Hope this helps,

Answer 4

It is very important for a child's development to be able to pretend play with tea-sets etc. Not only does it encourage them to develop good hand co-ordination but also teaches them about gravity and other day to day practicalities. If you want to get him off to a flying start then let him play with tea-sets, dolls houses and dressing up. You should also try to involve yourself in this make believe play as well.

Answer 5

When he's a grown up, are you not going to let him make a cup of tea because it's a womans job? My son got a tea set at about that age and still plays with it two years later. He also had a dolls buggy for his teddy, just teaching him to be a good dad!

Don't be so small minded, let him experience everything he can, it's not going to make him into a wuss.

Answer 6

A child is innocent and plays with whatever he finds interesting. Dont ask me how their minds work cos i was young 21 years ago. Anyway, if a child plays with girl toys, it doesnt really matter. Try to encourage him to play with other toys - more suitable for males. And gradually if he finds a better toy he will move off the tea set. But dont worry, he will learn. He is after all very young yet. Dont worry.

Answer 7

There is no such thing as "girl toys" and "boy toys." They're just TOYS.



Playing with a tea set or a doll isn't going to make your son gay. And playing with trucks and cars won't turn a little girl lesbian.



It's a TOY. Kids like to play out the situations that they see in their lives. One of those is cooking, serving food and eating. They like to pretend to do the things the adults around them do. It is very normal and healthy for them to do so. Playing is how they learn at this age.

Answer 8

Aw don't be silly Sally.....What in the world is wrong with you . Don't you want him to learn how to behave at table. If he asks for other things like ironing boards or hoovers then get them for him along with the usual so called "boy's toys", he is only showing an interest in all things. Just because he is a boy doesn't mean he will not have to have all life skills. Relax Sally you will have a well rounded young man in the future.

Answer 9

I'm sorry , why is it worrying -are you afraid someone might put alcohol in the set? get a grip. At the age of 4 my grandson's variously asked for a play kitchen, a doll's house, cuddly toys etc. At the ages of 11 and 8 their mother cannot get them away from football on the tv ; going swimming; playing rugby . I think you have some hangpus you need to get rid of fast.

Answer 10

Dont worry about it. My little boy is two and he has a tea set, plus a blue dolls buggy and a dolls house and hoover. He also has trucks and a bike and helicopter and other 'boy' things. loads of toys are universal now and arent all pink and flowery.



I believe in letting them play with what they want too. Then nothing is hidden.

Answer 11

yes it is ok and perfectly healthy!



little boys should beallowed to play with so called "girl" toys too.



no one has qualms about giving a girl a basket ball but one mention of a boy having a doll or dishes and every one freaks!!



and then we wonder why males make such unknowing/poor parents/ caretakers



I have 3 sons and they have dolls and kitchen sets and tea sets. and they pretend to be daddys and grown up. whats so horrible about a boy being a daddy? its not like they wear dresses and make up!



allowing boys to have dolls and dishes better prepares them for real life! (you know you would rather him know how to cook for him self during his first few years out of your home than him eating take out every meal and weighing 300LBs by the time hes 30 right.

so go at him with the kitchen wear and just think about the healthy adult life you are setting him up for!

Answer 12

I think that a tea set is a fine present for a little boy - as the giver said, it will help inprove motor skills and co-ordination.

When I was a kid, I had a younger brother who was a year younger than me, so we didn't have separate typically 'gender stereotyped' toys - I played with his toys and vice versa and we turned out fine!

Answer 13

There was once a psychology experiment where a boy grew up accepting and engaging in behavior that is associated with the opposite sex, like playing with dolls, using make-up, etc.



Your kids learn what the environment around them teaches them. Unfortunately, the media/marketers seems to be the dominant force of environmental factors of many kids today. I lament the complacency of many parents today.

Answer 14

Your boy doesn't have to sit down for a girly tea party. Ours uses tea set pieces that are in the house and pretends (the key word) to have hot chocolate or make us tea and toast in the morning.



I'm sure you drink cups/mugs of tea yourself and its great for them to feel they can join in with adult activities and grab a cup of their own.



My only worry would be if it's pink and flowery, do they do action man tea sets?!

Answer 15

leave him with it a toy is a toy no matter what the sex of the child ...as your friend said it will help him to hold cups and fill and empty .....you give a child a cardboard box they will play with it .....at his age he sees a toy it is only when he gets older will he think about boys and girls toys..... both my sons played with ironing boards ,tea sets, play food and shops then went on to action men and power rangers... plus you can get him to count how many cups he can fill from the tea pot all this will help with counting so in the long run will help with maths when he is older

Answer 16

don't force it upon him but if he likes it then of course let him play with it. your child is not going to become gay because of a tea set. gender neutral toys are recommended for children by all of the respectable and modern child psychologists. if it bothers you or your husband you could always sell it on ebay and get him a cup set that is not so girlish and he would still learn to pour things.

Answer 17

does he have loads of BOYS toys???? if so then really dont worry it will help him in fine motor skills social skills etc. sharing taking turns etc. I have 5 kiddies 2 boys and 3 girls seperation of girl/boy toys is impossible i have had my son play with baby dolls and at first i was worried i was brought up in a very stereotypical family but my eldest a boy is now so good with babies, many of the caring skills he honed on his sisters dolls - really it will only be a problem if you create one.



much love

lisa

Answer 18

Why not?? I have a two year old daughter and she is obsessed with trains, cars and aeroplanes. She still plays with her dolls and stuff as well. I agree with the friend it can only aid him to learn to use cups and stuff. Leave it be! I doubt at 15 he'll be bringing his mates home to play kitchen. And you never know he could end up the next Gordon Ramsey!!

Answer 19

Why not? I dont see anything wrong with boys playing with 'girls' yoys or vica versa. I think boys having a doll pram or tea set makes them more gentler and caring. My 2 1/2 year old nephew loves my daughters so called 'girls' toys!!!!

Answer 20

Why not.My 2 year old son loves baby's so we went out and got him a baby doll. He his the happiest little boy you've ever seen.He will change it,pretend to feed it.Walk with it. Even sing it to sleep.All the while saying "see mommy I'm a Good daddy. I take care of my baby like daddy does me!" At that age It truly does not matter. Toys are toys. If he enjoys it and has fun who really cares. He's not hurting any one or himself.

Answer 21

please please don`t worry, my grandsons play with dolls, prams, and their sisters tea-sets, 2 of my g/sons used to fight over who was getting the pram next but my 2 daughters just left them to get on with it, they were only 1 as well, now they are both 3 they don`t look at them as they are both into cars and motorbikes so i would`nt worry it`s only a phase they go through, oh by the way my other little g/son who is 1 is playing with his sisters things and it`s no different from the girls playing with the boys things, relax and don`t worry and have a great new year xx

Answer 22

A tea set is better for a 1-year-old than a bottle of vodka!

Answer 23

Hes just one. I dont think he could catch "The Gay" from playing with girlish toys if thats what you are worried about. 1 year olds will play with anything and have a fun time doing it. They have no concept of boy toys or girl toys yet. Leave it out for him. If he plays with it he plays with it. If not its no big deal.

Answer 24

Thats a very strange gift and honestly if my 20 month old son had gotten that for Christmas I would have said thankyou and later given the tea set to one of my nieces.He needs cars and boy toys-not a tea set.He can learn to hold a cup by using his sippy cup or another plastic cup.If you have a young female relative or know a young girl who would enjoy it I would give it to her!

Answer 25

Whats wrong with that? Dosnt mean he will grow up gay!!!! I let my daughter who is same age play with boys toys......They are too young to understand! If your 15 year old son wants to play with a tea set then you can start to worry

Answer 26

hi i have 2 boys and they both played make belive with tea cups and prtend food i think its fine as in the long run they will be picking things up and learning how to look after themseves if they never learn to make a cup of tea how will they do it when thier older i used to asked them to make me dinner(pretend) and they loved it they used to make me lego soup and stuff. remember he is just exploring the world around him and learning how to do things for himself just make sure you tell him hes not allowed to play with the real thing because its dangorous .remember even men have to make a cups of tea it doesnt make them any less masculine

Answer 27

It's fine.



When I was little, of course I played with dolls and stuff but I also dinasours and trucks.



Boys can play with dolls, tea sets, all that. It won't effect his sexuality or anything like that in the future.

Answer 28

Terrifying: he might grow up drinking tea.



It is MUCH MUCH MORE worrying that there is a growing trend towards gender stereotyped toys. Get him to play with all sorts of things, and he will grow up into a balanced human being.

Answer 29

If your son is heterosexual, a tea set will not make him homosexual. If your son is homosexual, a million toy cars and action figures will not make him heterosexual.



Let your son enjoy whatever safe toys he wants, and don't worry about them influencing his future sexual orientation.



My one-year-old daughter plays with toy trucks, Legos, footballs, baby dolls, stuffed animals and toy kitchen sets. I will love and support her no matter what her sexual orientation turns out to be.

Answer 30

itdoesnt really matter what toys they play wth, theyre way too young to understand the difference between girls and boys toys.



my brother used to play 'dollys' with me up until the age of 8 but it hasnt made a differece. he only stopped when someone took the mick out of him.

Answer 31

Sure why not???

I got my son this huge wooden doll house, and ALOT of people made comments on how boys shouldnt have things like that, whatever.

Hell I even have a barbie and my kid plays with it, he is 2 btw.

But he also has "boy" toys, like tonka and trains and stuff.

Its just there western societies bullshit attempt at deciding what is normal and what is not, yet if a girl wanted hotwheels no one would say anything right???

Answer 32

dont worry my sister only played with trucks and my brother played with dolls.My two 1/2 son wanted a baby and pushchair for christmas.he played and played with it untill yesturday he through it out of the front door and told her to go away because she had no knickers on.

Answer 33

Don't sweat it!! 2 boys. . .one still breaks it out, on occasion, at 5 years old. We chat and have little snacks, but it's nothing to get upset about.

Answer 34

did you have a tea set when you were one year old, can you even remember? its totally healthy and your worried about nothing

Answer 35

What, do you think it's going to turn him gay? HAHAHA. Aside from the fact that a tea set is a stupid gift for any child, he'll be fine. Just make sure he doesn't play with any GI Joes, that might get him started on a life-long love of men in uniform.

Seriously, don't worry so much, if you raise him well, he'll grow up to be fine, regardless of the toys he gets.

Answer 36

yes yes yes of course it is , dont be silly if he wants a dolly or a pair of high heals thats normal aswell. it's other people who put abnormal things into the situstion, why shouldnt he want a tea set....

Answer 37

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LEAVE

IT THERE IN HIS ROOM AND IF HE PLAYS WITH IT, HE PLAYS WITH IT NO BIG DEAL AND IF HE DOESN'T HE DOESN'T. JUST BECAUSE ONE PLAYS WITH A TEA CUP DON'T MAKE

THEM GAY, IF IT DID THEN THE CUPS THAT WE USE NOW

THE MALE ADULTS ARE GAY FOR JUST USING THEM, THINK

ABOUT IT WON'T YOU. SAME THING, SAME DIFFERENCE.

ONES A TOY, ONES A ADULT THING.

Answer 38

it is very healthy to let children play with all toys and not to discriminate. my nephew once had a kitchen bought for him and he loved it, after all you see men making tea, cooking meals, looking after children, pushing prams. Also nurseries encourage children to play with all toys

Answer 39

My son is 3 and asked for a doll's house for xmas. This is what he wanted and that's what he got.

Answer 40

He is one, don't worry. He will get bored with it soon enough. If he is playing with it when he is 10, then you can worry.

Answer 41

What on earth have you got to be worried about ,are you expecting his first words to be dad I'm gay , he's a baby.

Answer 42

not if it's a set from royal dulton with hand painted perriwinkles

Answer 43

At one you are worried?...Ask again when hes 8.

Answer 44

I wouldn't worry unless they're breakable.

Answer 45

No boys should only play with tools and girls should play house. Because women do not work and men do not have to do the dishes and cook. Men and Women all live at home being waited on by their mommies until they get married.

Answer 46

dont worry. kids do what ever they want. they dont really noe the differencs yet. my cousin use to play with barbies when he was young. n hes a boy. n hes 6 n he hates barbies caz its for girls. he'll grow out of it!

Answer 47

There is nothing wrong with having a homosexual boy

Answer 48

yer it fine

Answer 49

No, you are worrying

Answer 50

No!!



Mo-Mo

Please e-mail me at [e-mail]

Answer 51

uMMM...no- TAKE IT AWAY BEFORE ITS TOO LATE...U DID WANT A BOY RIGHT?