Should We Educate Our Girls as Girls and Our Boys as Boys? A word on gender differences

It’s a good question. Parents who lean towards “yes” (different genders = different education) may argue that girls are girls and boys are boys (true), so why not act accordingly. They may also say that this is what they (the parents) know, because this is this how they were educated. Parents who lean towards “no”, see the obvious potential issue with the perpetuation of gender stereotypes, some of which may work against our own kids and society in general, down the road. For example, some view the encouragement of “typically feminine” characteristics such as quietness, obedience, and passivity, as a reason why girls tend to like school better and perform better than boys in the early grades, yet those behaviors may be detrimental for their later success1.

Common sense should tell us that both points of view have merit. The “nature versus nurture” debate certainly plays a role in answering this question: the likely culprit of most of this heated debate may be a confusion between gender differences and gender stereotypes (reflected in gender roles). Gender differences are driven by biological factors, while gender stereotypes are the result of “children acquiring values, motives, and behaviors viewed as appropriate for males and females within a culture”1…so they are learned. Gender differences between the developmental behaviors of little boys and little girls do exist.  However, it is important to know that the overlap between the distributions is greater than the differences between them1. Furthermore, outlining the differences does not tell us why they exist1, yet the good news is acknowledging and leveraging these differences can help us improve how we educate our little ones.

Research shows us key differences in developmental and physical traits between little boys and girls. Boys’ brains, for example, develop at a different rate, time, and order than girls’ in the areas of the brain that affect language, spatial memory, and motor skills:  the language and fine motor skills areas mature about six years earlier in girls while the areas involved in targeting and spatial memory mature some four years earlier in boys2. Interestingly, boys’ eyes are physically different that girls’, specifically the visual cortices. Boys’ eyes are “drawn to cooler colors such as silver, black, blue, and gray, while girls’ eyes are drawn to textures and warmer colors—red, yellow, and orange”2. Girls hear better than boys, especially in higher ranges, and they also have a more sensitive sense of smell2. Also important is the nervous system: girls’ autonomic system is influenced more by the parasympathetic, while the boys’ sympathetic has a greater influence in the control of autonomic responses. This affects the reaction to threats or confrontations2.

So how do these differences matter in the development and behaviors of our children? Let’s start with girls. In general, girls have more sensory detailed memory storage, better listening skills, and better discrimination among the various tones of voice. They also have a learning advantage, especially in the language arts, and they tend to make fewer impulsive decisions than boys do. Girls tend to multitask better than boys do, with fewer attention span problems and greater ability to make quick transitions between activities3. Girls can discriminate between objects better than boys2. Compared to boys, girls focus more on faces and warm colors2. They can also better explain and describe their feelings2. Relatively speaking, girls do not deal with moderate stress well, and they may feel sick or nauseated when faced with threat and confrontation2. Also, compared to boys, girls show more positive emotions (e.g. happiness) and “internalizing emotions” (e.g., sadness, anxiety, sympathy)4.

Boys, on the other hand, tend to use more of the brain for spatial and mechanical functioning so that makes them want to move objects through space, like balls, model airplanes (…or just their arms and legs). Most boys will experience words and feelings differently than girls do3. They are more likely to be physically impulsive and less likely to sit still and chat with a friend3. Boys brains are structured to compartmentalize learning - thus girls are better at multitasking. When bored, their brains are set to “renew, recharge, and reorient by entering what neurologists call a rest state” (e.g. the boy in the back whose eyes are drifting toward sleep)3. Boys’ brains are better suited for symbols, abstractions, diagrams and pictures than for words3. They locate objects better than girls2, but find it difficult to talk about feelings2. Boys focus on movement and cold colors2. They deal with moderate stress relatively well and may “feel excited when faced with threat and confrontation”2. Also, compared to girls, boys show more externalizing emotions (e.g., anger)4.

Fine. But how can we leverage this knowledge to better engage our children while combating stereotypes?

Forget about gender roles and be aware of what really makes them different.  Embrace it and use it. Here are some broad tips.

When engaging girls…

  • Girls work well in groups facing one another2.
  • Choose activities that allow them to help you2.
  • Don’t protect them from activities in which they get dirty or scratch their knees a bit. Activities should provide opportunities for girls to take calculated risks2.
  • Girls don’t respond well to loud, sharp, short tones. They do respond to descriptive phrases. Loud and repetitive noises can be disturbing to them2.
  • Girls prefer a lot of colors2.
  • Use puzzles to support perceptual and symbolic learning2.
  • Activities should expose girls to math and science5, giving them plenty of opportunities to manipulate objects, build, design, and calculate3.
  • It’s best to incorporate music and art while they learn5.
  • Encourage physical games to promote development of their gross motor skills3.
  • Form teams to promote leadership roles and negotiation skills3.
  • Verbally “encourage the hidden high energy of the quieter girls"3.

When engaging boys…

  • Be brief - keep verbal instructions to one minute tops3.
  • Encourage them with quick praise, use models and instructions they can follow2.
  • Challenge them—boys thrive on competition2.
  • Use manipulatives like beadwork and others to promote fine motor development3.
  • Focus on what is challenging for them: language, and early literacy5.
  • Keep an eye on them, but let them play – they need a physical outlet2.
  • Provide large spaces for boys when possible2.
  • Educational activities should be “kinesthetic and experiential”2.
  • Boys verbalize more easily what they are doing than what they are feeling. They will talk more and use more vocabulary when they are engaged in a task. Also during a physical task, try to get them to verbalize their feelings3.
  • Let them nurture other boys through “healthy aggression and direct empathy”3.

A final word on children’s gender stereotypes. As parents, we can help reduce them by making gender equality a priority at home. Remember boys and girls are a lot more alike than they different. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kids' Candor Bilingual Educational Kits
 
To receive updates, news, free music, tools, and much more: sign up for our mailing list, like us on Facebook, subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow us on InstagramTwitter and Pinterest.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

References

 

 

 

 

 


Jorge Gallego
Jorge Gallego

Author



3 Responses

포텐슬롯사이트 https://Instagrm.me 카지노사이트
포텐슬롯사이트 https://Instagrm.me 카지노사이트

March 02, 2023

카심바카지노 스핀슬롯 카지노사이트주소 슬롯머신777 온라인바카라 헤븐카지노 슬롯나라 파라오카지노 카심바슬롯 바카라사이트 바카라시스템배팅 https://Instagrm.me 바카라규칙 온라인카지노 온라인카지노 포텐슬롯사이트 밀리언클럽카지노 온라인바카라사이트 카지노사이트 실시간카지노 더존카지노 카심바슬롯 퍼스트카지노 온라인바카라 룰렛사이트 비바카지노쿠폰 잭파시티먹튀 맥스카지노쿠폰 모바일카지노 카심바슬롯 라이브바카라 카심바슬롯 온라인바카라 FM카지노 슬롯카지노 바카라전략슈 슈퍼카지노 https://Instagrm.me 온라인카지노 아바타바카라 카지노베이 바카라이기는방법 온라인바카라 https://Instagrm.me 카지노추천 카지노게임사이트 포텐슬롯 온라인슬롯사이트 메이저카지노 맥스카지노쿠폰 오공슬롯먹튀 FM카지노 밀리언카지노 붐카지노더존카지노먹튀 비바카지노 온라인슬롯잭팟 카지노사이트추천 밀리언카지노 온라인카지노 카지노사이트 카심바슬롯 카지노주소 카지노 https://Instagrm.me 카지노사이트 카지노룰렛 카지노게임사이트 카지노게임사이트 온라인바카라 맥스카지노 포텐슬롯사이트 엠카지노 식보게임사이트 https://Instagrm.me 바카라사이트추천 블랙잭추천 카심바슬롯 온라인바카라 필리핀아바타 코인카지노 바카라노하우 비바카지노주소 포텐슬롯사이트 프로카지노 mongoangulam998 밀리언카지노 우리카지노먹튀 바카라전략바카라필승법 우리카지노계열사 포텐슬롯주소필리핀아바타 바카라사이트주소 헤븐카지노 바카라사이트 해외슬롯사이트 카심바슬롯 바카라검증사이트 바카라배팅노하우 카지노블랙잭 카심바슬롯 바카라잘하는방법 온라인슬롯추천 온라인카지노사이트 온라인카지노 더존카지노먹튀 블랙잭주소 바카라게임사이트 포텐슬롯주소 온라인바카라 생방송바카라 온라인바카라 바카라하는곳 카지노랜드 메리트카지노먹튀 바카라사이트 더존카지노 메이저카지노 바카라사이트 포텐슬롯사이트 카지노다이사이 https://Instagrm.me 온라인바카라 마이크로게이밍 엔젤카지노 더나인카지노먹튀 더킹카지노 007카지노 카심바슬롯 바카라게임사이트 온라인바카라 리조트월드카지노 카지노쿠폰 생방송바카라 온라인바카라 온라인카지노슬롯머신 바카라사이트 카심바카지노 카지노사이트 카지노사이트 플레이슬롯 오공슬롯 더킹카지노 카지노사이트 카심바슬롯 비바카지노쿠폰 https://Instagrm.me 바카라분석법 온라인카지노 https://Instagrm.me 슬롯머신777 인터넷슬롯머신 슬롯머신추천 포텐슬롯사이트 오공슬롯 호게임 메리트카지노 온라인슬롯사이트 바카라마틴배팅 마닐라카지노 샌즈카지노먹튀홈카지노 포텐슬롯사이트 블랙잭추천 카지노하는곳 온라인카지노 온라인카지노 mongoangulam998 온라인바카라 카심바슬롯 COD카지노슬롯머신 마닐라카지노 카심바슬롯세부카지노 헤븐카지노 카지노검증사이트 바카라사이트 탑슬롯먹튀 식보게임주소 카지노사이트 https://Instagrm.me 포텐슬롯주소 호게이밍 포텐슬롯주소 온라인바카라 솔레어카지노 생방송카지노 로얄카지노 비바카지노주소 바카라배팅법 코인카지노 온라인카지노 바카라전략슈 온라인바카라사이트 비바카지노주소 안전카지노 슬롯머신사이트 파라오카지노먹튀 샌즈카지노 바카라 바카라사이트 카지노슬롯사이트 비바카지노 https://Instagrm.me 게임플레이게이밍 카지노사이트 스피드바카라 sm카지노 안전카지노 비바카지노주소 카지노검증사이트 월드카지노 카지노사이트 카지노사이트 맥스카지노주소 맥스카지노 카지노추천 모바일카지노 온라인다이사이 예스카지노 온라인블랙잭 필리핀아바타카지노 에볼루션게이밍 https://Instagrm.me 슬롯카지노 더존카지노 메리트카지노먹튀 https://Instagrm.me 메리트카지노 메이저카지노 포텐슬롯 온라인바카라 SM카지노먹튀 온라인바카라 온라인슬롯머신게임 개츠비카지노 온라인바카라사이트 슬롯머신추천 메리트카지노 비바카지노 안전카지노 온라인카지노 얀카지노 카심바주소 SM카지노먹튀 바카라잘하는방법바카라규칙 카지노사이트 포텐슬롯 https://Instagrm.me 카심바슬롯 카지노사이트 바카라이기는법 카지노베이 바카라룰 더존카지노 실시간카지노 플레이텍게이밍 인터넷룰렛 플레이텍게이밍 타이산게이밍 바카라분석법 포텐슬롯 생방송바카라 비바카지노쿠폰 mongoangulam998 오공슬롯먹튀 비보게이밍 온라인룰렛맥스카지노쿠폰 카심바코리아 실시간바카라카심바슬롯 https://Instagrm.me 우리카지노계열사 잭팟시티슬롯 슬롯사이트 마카오카지노 더존카지노먹튀 블랙잭주소 필리핀아바타
https://instagrme.live - 에그벳슬롯
https://instagrme.live - 에그벳슬롯

March 02, 2023

바카라사이트
온라인바카라
온라인카지노
카지노검증사이트
안전카지노
카지노추천
실시간카지노
비바카지노
카지노주소
인터넷카지노
라이브카지노
바카라게임
퀸즈슬롯
온라인카지노롤링
우리카지노-쿠폰
아바타배팅 전화배팅
온라인 슬롯머신게임
우리카지노 sa게임
블랙잭 게임하는법
에볼루션카지노
바카라 게임하는법
호게임
카지노양방
카지노총판
맥스카지노
밀리언클럽카지노
로얄카지노
카심바코리아 슬롯카지노
카지노사이트

바카라사이트
온라인바카라
온라인카지노
카지노검증사이트
안전카지노
카지노추천
실시간카지노
비바카지노
카지노주소
인터넷카지노
라이브카지노
바카라게임
퀸즈슬롯
온라인카지노롤링
우리카지노 쿠폰
아바타배팅 전화배팅
온라인 슬롯머신게임
우리카지노 sa게임
블랙잭 게임하는법
에볼루션카지노
바카라 게임하는법
호게임
카지노양방
카지노총판
맥스카지노
밀리언클럽카지노
로얄카지노
카심바코리아 슬롯카지노
카지노사이트

https://youube.me/
https://gamja888.com/
https://instagrme.com/
https://youubbe.me/
https://Instagrm.me/
https://Instagrme.net/
https://instagrme.site/
https://naverom.me/
http://facebookom.me/

Ana M Gallego
Ana M Gallego

March 30, 2017

Excelente artículo.

Leave a comment